For months, Governor Dayton asked legislative leaders to agree to a special session to extend unemployment benefits for Iron Range Steelworkers. House Speaker Kurt Daudt refused to agree to the special session, saying it could wait until regular session. After keeping Iron Range families waiting for aid for months, Republicans are now trying to pass a business tax cut in exchange for benefits for Steelworkers.

Speaker Daudt had previously stated, “I’m not going to politicize [the issue],” but appears to be doing exactly that. Governor Dayton has called this business tax giveaway “disgraceful,” and I’m sure that struggling Iron Range families would like to see their unemployment insurance extension move forward quickly as a standalone issue. Speaker Daudt has kept Iron Range families waiting long enough.