Members of Congress are formally counting the Electoral College votes Wednesday. A group of Republicans are planning to object to the results, citing false claims of widespread voter fraud. President Donald Trump continues to baselessly claim that he won the election rather than Joe Biden, who is set to be sworn into office on Jan. 20. đș Watch the proceedings live at noon Hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump descended on the nationâs capital Tuesday to cheer his baseless claims of election fraud a day before a congressional vote to affirm Joe Bidenâs victory. Just blocks from the White House, protesters â many without masks â gathered in Freedom Plaza to decry the vote in the Electoral College. As temperatures dropped to the low 40s and a steady rain swept onto the streets, hundreds remained in the plaza into nightfall. After meeting monthly in special sessions since last spring to address COVID-19 concerns, Minnesota lawmakers started their regular session Tuesday amid ongoing concerns about the pandemic and the need to set a new two-year state budget. Lawmakers have a lot of work ahead of them. They need to address a projected revenue shortfall of $1.3 billion in the next two-year budget cycle. Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and other Republicans are insisting that the shortfall can be addressed through spending cuts and no tax increases. DFL Gov. Tim Walz, who will present a budget proposal later this month, wants all options on the table. Several Republican lawmakers refused to wear masks on the opening day, even as they paid tribute to a colleague who died of complications of COVID-19. đ§ today at 2 p.m. MPR News will have live coverage of Gov. Walz's annoucement to ease COVID-19 restrictions.
