Walz to Hold Town Halls on Gun Control
In an interview last week Gov. Tim Walz outlined his plan to hold town halls in specific districts around the state where the legislative members may not want to support a ban on assault-style weapons. Walz recently told reporters that there needs to be an agreement prior to calling a special session and that it would be a waste of time to convene without an agreement. With the town halls, Walz hopes members in swing districts might be convinced to vote for a ban. He recently said “I am asking them (Republicans) to come in, debate this ban, put it on the floor and vote. If you think it’s a terrible idea that infringes on your Second Amendment rights and won’t protect our students, then vote no.”
Republican Speaker of the House Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) said that her caucus will show up if a special session is called, but that they haven’t seen an actual proposal or the bill language that would be up for debate. Demuth said the ban on assault weapons shouldn’t be the only thing considered, but a bill that would address public safety, school safety, mental health, and criminal penalties would be something that Republicans would be willing to consider.
Fraud Prevention Oversight Committee Met Last Week
On Tuesday, October 14th, the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee met to discuss election integrity and voter fraud. Secretary of State Steve Simon was present to answer questions related to voter fraud investigations and election integrity. The committee specifically focused on past investigations into fraudulent voter registrations and the role of the Secretary of State’s office in preventing and investigating incidents of voter fraud.
Political Updates
The federal government shutdown enters its third week with no resolution in sight. This now ranks as the third-longest shutdown in U.S. history—and the longest full government closure ever. The 2018–2019 partial shutdown lasted 35 days, and the 1995–1996 standoff lasted 21 days.
A Critical Week Ahead
Each week of a shutdown brings escalating consequences for the 750,000 furloughed federal employees and millions of affected Americans. But the coming days may prove decisive.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer continues urging Trump to participate in negotiations over the expiring Obamacare premium subsidies, but the president has left strategy to Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Possible Off-Ramp: November 1
November 1—the start of open enrollment for health insurance—may offer Democrats a potential exit strategy. While party leaders initially rejected the idea, some now see this as a natural moment to end the shutdown and claim a political victory. Democrats could argue that legislative action on the premium subsidies is no longer feasible and position Republicans to shoulder the blame for rising health costs and coverage lapses.
If Democrats accept a political, rather than policy, win, Schumer must determine how to frame the compromise and protect himself from criticism within his caucus. The internal debate now centers on whether to seek a vote on extending the subsidies or simply move to reopen the government.
Senate Action
The Senate is scheduled to vote tonight—for the 11th time—on the House-passed continuing resolution, which is expected to fail again. Attention will shift later this week to a GOP measure that would pay federal employees, including members of the military, who have been working without pay. A few Democrats are expected to support the bill, but it is unlikely to reach the 60 votes needed to advance.
Economic and Human Impact
This week, federal employees will miss their first full paycheck, covering work performed from October 4–18. Financial pressure is mounting, with the Congressional Federal Credit Union already advertising emergency “furlough solutions.”
Critical federal functions are feeling strain:
Meanwhile, OMB Director Russ Vought continues to warn of additional layoffs, with roughly 4,200 federal workers already furloughed permanently and up to 10,000 more at risk.
Looking Ahead
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans will join President Trump in the Rose Garden for a luncheon intended to project unity and praise the Senate’s loyalty during the shutdown. While the optics will likely dominate headlines, the real test remains whether any progress can be made before November 1.
As always, Larkin Hoffman Public Affairs is closely monitoring negotiations and their impact on federal programs, grants, and appropriations affecting our clients. We will continue to keep you apprised as developments unfold.
