Data and Research Manager , CD3 DFL

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: July 2, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

We finished passing a state budget on Wednesday! The two-year budget includes a historic increase in funding for public schools, significant investments in public health, tax cuts for workers and small businesses impacted by COVID-19, measures to improve police accountability, funding for roads and public transit, rental assistance, and more.

If you’d like to read more about a particular area of the budget, you can click on the following links to view a nonpartisan summary provided by House Public Information Services: Legacy; Agriculture and Broadband; Higher Education; Commerce, Climate, and Energy; Transportation; Housing; Environment and Natural Resources; Jobs and Labor; E-12 Education; Health and Human Services; Public Safety and Judiciary; State Government, Elections, and Veterans; and Taxes.

Trump exec Weisselberg pleads not guilty to fraud, conspiracy charges

New York City prosecutors on Thursday charged the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, with various fraud and conspiracy charges.

Weisselberg, who turned himself in earlier Thursday morning, pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges, which include tax fraud, conspiracy, grand larceny and falsifying business records. He and the Trump Organization have denied wrongdoing.

In an indictment that was unsealed Thursday afternoon, prosecutors alleged that Weisselberg helped orchestrate a scheme to compensate himself and “other Trump Organization executives” with unreported income. Continue reading.

Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart Update: July 2, 2021

A message from your Senator

Constituents and friends,

On Tuesday, we finished passing all of the budget bills required to avoid a government shutdown, and I’m glad we satisfied the most basic requirement of our job as legislators by passing Minnesota’s budget on time. As the only divided legislature in the country, policy compromises were inevitable, but it would’ve been truly irresponsible to waste taxpayer funds and harm many people’s lives and livelihoods with a shutdown.

While there are good provisions in each budget bill that will directly and materially improve the lives of Minnesotans, thanks largely to the passionate advocacy of my Senate and House DFL colleagues, we could’ve aimed higher and done far more with our resources. We have a long way to go before we’ve secured a truly safe and sustainable future for our state, and I’m committed to continuing that work.

House approves select committee to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol riot

The House voted 222-190 on Wednesday to create a select committee to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Why it matters: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi moved forward with the creation of a committee controlled by Democrats after Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have established a bipartisan 9/11-style commission to probe the Jan. 6 attack.

Only two House Republicans, Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) voted for the select committee, whereas 35 Republicans had previously voted for the bipartisan commission. Continue reading.

Top Texas elected official accused of ‘punishing dissidents’ after bragging about ‘canceling’ history discussion

Texas Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who is the most powerful elected official in the Lone Star State, has personally attacked what the right likes to call “cancel culture.” But on Friday he bragged about engaging in it himself – literally.

“As a member of the Preservation Board, I told staff to cancel this event as soon as I found out about it,” he tweeted.

Patrick is referring to an event at Texas’ Bullock State History Museum. The museum “abruptly pulled out” of the event on Thursday, which would have featured “a new book that re-examines the story of The Alamo.” The event’s cancelation prompted “claims of state censorship from its authors,” The San Antonio Express News reports. Continue reading.

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: July 2, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

In the earlier hours of July 1, 2021 – the longest legislative session came to an end – at least that’s what it has felt like. We have essentially been in session for a year and half, since the pandemic began more than a year ago. Although a bit weary, and with a long to-do list still remaining, we have accomplished much in our work together.

We made the health of Minnesotans our top priority. Working with Governor Walz, we put in place the tools necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus, saving countless lives. Today, we are at a 70% vaccination rate of Minnesota’s adults, another milestone in our collective efforts to beat the virus.

We worked to protect the economic security of Minnesotans, especially those most impacted by the pandemic. COVID-19 has not been fair in any sense of the word. But through rental assistance, extended unemployment and other means, we strived to help Minnesotans keep their heads above water so they could provide and care for their families throughout the pandemic.

Happy July 4th

We wish you a safe and happy July 4th holiday weekend.

We’re taking a few days off to celebrate. So, we’ll see you July 6th with more posts.

Rep. Cedrick Frazier (HD45A) Update: July 2, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Early Thursday morning, we adjourned the Minnesota House after finalizing our budgets and coming to an agreement on budget bills. The past year, and the few weeks over time were well worth the outcome! We were able to deliver strong budget bills to ensure that Minnesotans have accessibility and a good quality of life. Our budget invests in the people. It aims to improve and recover the conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier today, Gov. Walz signed the remaining budget bills into law.

Over the past few weeks, we have been able to pass several key bipartisan budgets in a number of areas to ensure Minnesotans can access resources, investments and recover from the impacts of this pandemic. If you’d like to get caught up on the bills we’ve passed the last two weeks, you can find nonpartisan summaries of the bills and the process around them here:

Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: July 2, 2021

Dear Edina Neighbors and Community Members,

Early Thursday morning, we adjourned the Minnesota House after passing our last budget bills and the Taxes Omnibus Bill. We were able to deliver strong bipartisan budget bills to ensure that Minnesotans have accessibility and a good quality of life. Our budget invests in the success of our State and its people. It delivers a tax bill that supports business by investing in grants and by not taxing any of the PPP loans that businesses received to stay afloat during the pandemic. I am proud to report that yesterday, Gov. Walz finished signing all 2021 budget bills into law.

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 2, 2021

Governor Tim Walz Delivers Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget

Gov. Walz Singing COVID-19 Recovery Budget

As Minnesota emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tim Walz signed Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget—Minnesota’s state budget for the next two years. The bipartisan budget includes Governor Walz’s priorities to invest in small businesses and drive economic recovery, ensure students catch up on learning to succeed for years to come, and support essential workers and working families.

“Together, we made it through this pandemic, we got the vaccine, and now, with Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget, we are on our way back, stronger than ever,” said Governor Walz.

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A message from your Senator

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Governor Tim Walz Delivers Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget

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