There have been numerous calls for a special session before our usual January start date, primarily due to the unusual flooding that has plagued Minnesota in recent weeks. Governor Walz has hinted at the need for such a session, leading many to speculate about its possibility. However, we must carefully consider whether a special session is truly necessary.
For many years, Minnesota has had the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account (DACA) in place specifically to address situations like this. The DACA fund exists to provide swift and effective relief to those affected by natural disasters without the need to convene a special session. My question is this: why is a special session necessary? If we begin a special session for the purpose of flood relief, there is no guarantee that we will stick to that subject alone. Additionally, a special session is not constitutionally required to end at any particular time, which could lead to a prolonged and unfocused legislative session. This is the last thing Minnesotans need right now. We should reject calls for a special session and instead rely on the DACA fund to address the flooding crisis in Minnesota, ensuring that our focus remains on providing the necessary relief to those in need without opening the door to unrelated legislative actions.
