Good morning. Can't beat windows-open nights like the ones we're having now. 

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has survived an attempt from hard-right Republicans to oust him. The move to force a vote on the motion to vacate — the same tool that cleared his path to become speaker when Kevin McCarthy held the gavel — failed yesterday. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attempt to push Johnson out was tabled on an overwhelming vote. Seven of Minnesota’s House members voted to scuttle the effort, including all four Republicans and three Democrats. One, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, voted present.

A Minnesota Senate ethics subcommittee said a member who sent an email to colleagues with a link depicting genitals will undergo training from the GOP caucus on appropriate correspondence. The four-member panel approved a resolution that drops the complaint against Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, following successful completion of the training. DFL Sen. Erin Maye Quade, of Apple Valley, brought the complaint last year and noted the email to all members was harmful and insensitive. The panel’s chair, Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, said the resolution was a middle ground response. "Even though we can do something and have no ill intent, it still can have profound impact on an individual,” Champion said. “And we want to just recognize that." Sen. Andrew Mathews, R-Milaca, said the resolution will allow for eventual dismissal and resolve the issue to “not have this hanging over the work the ethics committee needs to do or to have one of our members of the Senate continue to hang forward on them.” 

A bill now on the desk of Gov. Tim Walz would restore an exemption that religious groups sought to shield them from claims of discrimination. The change would put in an exemption for religious organizations and schools when it comes to gender identity. They’ve argued that the existing law, which changed last year, would have run contrary to religious autonomy in hiring decisions and expose them to civil lawsuits. Negotiations behind the scenes produced an agreement that won passage this week. Deena Winter of the Minnesota Reformer has more details.

A conference committee of lawmakers from both chambers has reached an agreement on a measure to better police purchase charges some call junk fees. The bill would require companies to include service charges on non-tax mandatory fees into advertised prices. “Employee wellness fees” at restaurants and other businesses added to a customer’s bill to help pay for employee health insurance and other worker benefits would not be allowed under the bill. Delivery platforms like DoorDash and UberEats would have to disclose all fees before the billing check out page. Once the agreement is signed by the negotiators, it would move to an up and down vote in the House and the Senate. Gov. Tim Walz said he would sign the bill. 

The bonding bill dance is always a fun one to watch. Here’s the rub: Members of both parties want an agreement that includes projects that benefit communities all over the state and it takes members of both parties to pass one. But Republicans in this case have reason to hold back on pledges to vote for a bill. They can potentially extract more projects that directly impact their members and they might get other concessions on the side, including adding or subtracting items for other bills or being allowed to air their preferences on end-of-session deals. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said yesterday that good-faith offers have been exchanged on a package that would provide for roads, bridges, wastewater projects and more. “It would be nice to get the bonding bill done and EMS,” he said, referring to a plan to shore up emergency medical service providers. But he said the deferred ethics matter over Sen. Nicole Mitchell is leaving a sour taste for the GOP. “Democrats are really jeopardizing the ability to work on that bonding bill right now, by first of all, not working in a bipartisan manner and figuring out how we're going to end this session,” including allowing Mitchell to be the 34th vote on controversial items.

Finally, Ellie wasn’t busy enough this week so we had her check out a smelly flower. A corpse flower named “Horace” is about to bloom at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. You can get a whiff yourself or just check it out on the livestream.