MN Republicans propose cutting a third of DFL Senate Staff (And no cuts on their side of the aisle)

On the first day of the legislative session, the GOP proposed a staff cut in the Senate. Per last year's budget agreement, a 5% cut in the Senate budget had to be made. There was just one catch to the Republican cost-cutting plan: All Senate staffer cuts proposed by the GOP are on the DFL side. Up to 14 staffers of their 43 permanent, full-time staff -- 33% of their total staff -- are proposed to be cut by the Republican plan. The Republican majority, which employs roughly 75 permanent, full-time staff, would face zero permanent staff cuts.

“The first day, what do we do?” DFL Senate Minority Leader Bakk was quoted in MinnPost. “Tell the Democrats they have to lay off 12 to 14 people.”

The Republican response? From Senator Julianne Ortmann: "Do Minnesotans really need to hear about this?"

Senator Bakk says yes: "This is a story about honesty and an abuse of power that will impact the careers of many, hard-working people."

According to the DFL, when they were in charge of the Senate, "they made every effort to keep cuts equitable across both parties. This time, 'What we’re doing is balancing the Senate budget with cuts to the minority staff.'"

Read more on Minnpost:
Opening Day's amicable mood abruptly changed when GOP cut DFL senators' budget

Bakk cries 'Foul!' over 'inside baseball' Senate staffing fight

And check out this week's Almanac at the Capitol, featuring an interview with Senator Amy Koch regarding her decision to step down as Majority Leader, and an interview with the new Majority Leader, Dave Senjem, and Minority Leader Bakk.