Almanac's State Fair Show Brings the Governor and Leaders Together

The state's three most powerful people in public policy have hatched a plan that revolves around a renewed dedication to work together in an effort to solve some of the most vexing issues in Minnesota politics. On the Minnesota State Fair Almanac program at the Twin Cities PBS booth, DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced: "You have brought us together. We did have a conversation before the show started about heading up to Brainerd, getting on a boat at a more temperate time of year, and having a conversation about insulin and gun violence prevention. Just the three of us, to see if we can't find some common ground." In the light-hearted feeling of the State Fair atmosphere, Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka joked that Almanac is, "Solving problems with us again."

Regardless of the leaders' declaration to work together on issues such as gun violence prevention, their positions on the legalization of marijuana are divided. As DFL House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler convened conversations at the State Fair about legalizing marijuana and Gov. Tim Walz has asked state agencies to prepare for legalization, Republican Leader Gazelka made it clear that his chamber's opposition hasn't changed: "The Senate took a vote and said we don't want recreational marijuana in Minnesota." DFL House Speaker Hortman brought up the possibility of decriminalizing cannabis and said generally, "Minnesotans want us to have a conversation about marijuana."

As always, Almanac's Friday broadcasts at 7 pm on TPT2 will keep you up-to-speed on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans. You can also stream the show at any time.