(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers and Governor Tim Walz are expecting to focus on spending and crime during the upcoming legislative session. Leaders will have to agree how to use the state’s seven-point-seven billion dollar surplus and over a billion dollars in federal aid. Senate Republicans are aiming to cut taxes permanently as a way to return the surplus to Minnesotans. Governor Walz and Democratic lawmakers want to use the funds for various projects. Both parties have addressing crime high on their agendas.