Senate DFL presses House Republicans to act on affordability as session deadline nears

Sen. Heather Gustafson, who represents Senate District 36, opened a Senate DFL press conference by urging lawmakers to tackle the rising cost of groceries, housing, energy, health care and childcare rather than let last-minute politics block relief. "No matter where you live in our state, you should be able to afford the essentials," she said, listing recent DFL achievements including universal school meals and the North Star Promise.

Sen. Erin Maye Quade (Apple Valley, Rosemount and Eagan) accused federal Republicans of prioritizing the wealthy and said those federal actions have forced the state to respond. Quade cited a set of federal changes she described as large tax cuts for the wealthy and said those moves have been linked, in her remarks, to higher costs and benefit reductions for Minnesotans.

Sen. Liz Bolden (District 25, Rochester) framed the Senate majority's budget as mitigation for federal cuts, saying the DFL is spending hundreds of millions to prevent disruptions to hospitals, food support and health coverage. "We would rather be expanding access to health care and lowering insurance costs," Bolden said, "but we have the responsibility to respond to the current moment."

Majority Leader Erin Murphy reiterated that the Senate's budget and policy proposals have been public and called on House Republicans to do their work in public as well. "Everything that Senator Murphy is bringing into negotiations, we passed as a senate," one member said at the microphone, and Murphy added that the Senate is ready to negotiate but needs the House to pass corresponding bills so conference committees can proceed.

Reporters raised several near-term items during a question-and-answer session, including funding for HCMC and other rural and critical-access hospitals and a rental relief fund passed earlier this session. Murphy said the Senate's position is "the strongest of the positions" on hospital aid and expressed hope a global budget agreement could be reached before the coming weekend. She repeatedly emphasized that the Senate's offer has been made publicly and urged a transparent negotiation process.

Why it matters: The exchange puts a spotlight on the narrowing window for lawmakers to resolve a budget and policy package that the Senate DFL says will blunt the effects of recent federal policy changes on Minnesota families. With session deadlines approaching, the public airing of proposals and the Senate's repeated plea for House action frames the coming days as decisive for aid to renters, seniors and rural communities.

The press conference concluded without any formal votes; leaders said negotiations will continue on the floor and in discussions between chamber leaders.