Minnesota House leaders Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) and Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis) debate during a legislative session preview at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs on Feb. 3. The duo found few points of commonality, but seemed to suggest that if the upcoming session produces a bonding bill of roughly $800 million, both parties might be amenable. Thissen said that medical marijuana is not on the table, but plans to push a women’s economic security bill. Daudt said that much of the GOP’s energy will be focused on repealing business tax hikes passed in 2013. They disagreed on the need for a minimum wage hike. They seemed to agree that this is, in Thissen’s words, “not the year” for the comprehensive, 20-year, $12 billion transportation package that has been pushed recently by MnDOT Commissioner Charles Zelle. Photo by Kevin Featherly.