At Issue: March 28 — Vaccine eligibility expanding, budget battle continues in Legislature

Gov. Tim Walz announced this week the state is expanding its vaccine eligibility to all Minnesotans 16 and up, starting on Tuesday. The expansion doesn’t mean everyone will get their shot immediately but it does open the door for more signs of normalcy.

Meanwhile, the House DFL released it budget priorities this week without providing exact details. It was met with immediate resistance from Republicans in charge of the Senate.

This week on “At Issue,” we talk to both Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, about the budget talks and what’s ahead for the legislative session. Lawmakers have until June to agree with the Walz administration on a budget as they wrestle over a $1.6 billion projected surplus.

Plus, a ruling handed down from the Minnesota Supreme Court is giving lawmakers another reason to pass a bill that they say would close a loophole in prosecuting sexual assault cases.