Minnesota House Democrats tucked two controversial anti-gun-violence measures — background checks and a “red flag” provision — into a public safety budget bill, trying to get more end-of-session leverage against Senate Republicans who strongly oppose those measures. House Speaker, Democrat Melissa Hortman:

But would House Democrats go so far as to “hold the state budget hostage” to get the gun measures into law? Hortman says “We’re not issuing ultimatums.”