Capitol View for May 1

Good morning. We’ve reached the final (calendar) month of session.

Republicans are intent on keeping the Sen. Nicole Mitchell ordeal front of mind with hours of debate over her status this week already and no doubt hours more to come. Yesterday, the move was to put all senators on record over their willingness to call for her resignation. That motion went down 34-33 — Mitchell voted to sink it, which prompted another discussion over her participation in a vote that directly affects her. Republicans say Mitchell should resign following her burglary arrest last week. Sen. Julia Coleman said Democrats should work with Republicans rather than relying on Mitchell's vote. "With this vote, are you choosing a charged felon over cooperating with the other side? Are you choosing a charged felon over reaching your hand out across the aisle to work with Republicans for the remainder of session?” (For the record, Mitchell wouldn’t be a felon unless she’s convicted.) DFL Sen. John Marty said court proceedings and an ethics probe should be allowed to move forward first: "I think integrity means how you treat other people. And recognize that some people here have done wrong things, probably 100 percent of us have. And that's okay, we're human beings. And if we feel that after a conviction that we should do something about it, then let's do something about it. … It’s a kangaroo court style atmosphere. We have to do it now. We can’t wait for the courts!” A Senate ethics hearing is set for Tuesday.

In the House, lawmakers approved a supplemental budget bill for education. MPR’s Elizabeth Shockman writes that it includes $55 million for literacy training for teachers, expansion of a pre-kindergarten program and new efforts to combat absenteeism. It was a 68 to 61 vote. Attention shifts next to the Senate, where a separate proposal is moving along. Differences between the two would have to be settled prior to reaching Gov. Tim Walz.

A Minnesota Department of Education official was on the witness stand yesterday in the first Feeding Our Future fraud trial. MPR’s Matt Sepic wrote about the testimony from Emily Honer , who oversees the programs on the state level at the Minnesota Department of Education. She said the spike in reimbursement requests and headcounts for meals served raised suspicions. Honer testified that when she and her staff were unable to get “reasonable answers” from Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition, they contacted the USDA’s inspector general. She also alerted the FBI to her concerns. The agency attempted to stop payments but were ordered to resume them by a court.

Republicans, who don’t hold any majorities at the Capitol, are pushing measures to provide more transparency for the $500 million renovation of the State Office Building. The building for House lawmakers has had problems with airflow, burst pipes that have flooded workspaces and mold. Reporter Clay Masters reports Republicans are pushing back on the more than $500 million price tag — more with interest costs — is too large and plans have not been transparent. The project itself has been humming along since winter in the shadow of the Capitol. House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth says payments begin this week and has a measure that would pause the project until Jan. 1, 2025. Demuth also wants the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board more involved with the project. DFLers defend the renovation as necessary to preserve the historic building and to add enhanced security and improve accessibility for people with disabilities. The work is slated to last into 2026.

Dozens of cannabis business owners and growers pressed lawmakers yesterday to speed up the timeline to get pre-approved for a cannabis license. The calls came as the Senate Commerce Committee took up a budget top-off bill for the Office of Cannabis Management and that also sets timelines for getting businesses up and running. Dana Ferguson reports that the business owners said they were worried about not having enough time to get a cannabis crop ready before dispensaries could open their doors next year. “Five months from start to finish before we have a product that is sellable,” Stephen Bernard with b/c Brands said. “If you look at edibles products, if you look at concentrates, there's two to three processing steps after that. So, you know, this is something that we're already behind the eight ball.”

While lawmakers are weighing some of the changes laid out by business owners, Minnesota cannabis regulators so far have not. MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan reports that the Office of Cannabis Management hasn’t called for the speedier timeline for getting cultivation licenses pre-approved and letting business owners take steps to get ready for opening. But senators are moving forward with amendments that would expedite the growth process. House bill authors also said they’re open to the change.

One more on marijuana: Federal officials could be about to reclassify the drug. The AP reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration proposal would classify it was a less dangerous drug. The DEA’s proposal would nod to the medical uses of cannabis and recognize that it is less prone to abuse than other dangerous drugs. The plan still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The proposal wouldn’t legalize marijuana for recreational use.

The judge in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial has ordered the defendant to put up money for violating a gag order. For a billionaire, the $9,000 penalty won’t sting all that much. But Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump that he could order Trump jailed for contempt if he violates the gag order again that is aimed at protecting witnesses and jurors in the Manhattan criminal trial. Trump has also been ordered to remove seven social media posts that violated the gag order.

Land doesn’t vote, but people are increasingly sorting themselves politically. Minnesota’s political geography remains in transition. MPR’s Catharine Richert takes us to Goodhue County for her latest Talking Sense series story. It used to be a purplish area but is now quite red. There are many factors, but a distrust and annoyance with government dictates is part of it. Read more about it here and check back next week for her story on a county that has moved in the opposite direction.