At Issue: Jan. 30 — Minnesota legislative session preview

Minnesota’s legislative session kicks off Monday, and public safety is among the top priorities for DFL Gov. Tim Walz and Republican lawmakers — but they have different approaches to the issue of rising crime.

Walz is pitching $300 million over three years for public safety grants for local governments, $30 million in crime prevention grants for cities with high rates of carjackings and homicides and financial incentives for retaining police officers and hiring new ones.

Senate Republicans, meanwhile, put an emphasis on hiring more police officers across the state and called for recruitment grants and college scholarships for prospective police officers. They also are looking at harsher sentences for violent offenders and more aggressive prosecution of crimes.

Democrats and Republicans will also have to reach a compromise on how to use Minnesota’s projected $7.7 billion budget surplus. Gov. Walz wants to see the money go toward schools, early childhood programs and paid family and medical leave. Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, says his caucus will propose major tax cuts in light of the surplus.

Miller and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, join the show to talk about what they hope to see from the upcoming legislative session.