In the Know: January 31, 2019

Congress
Democrats Are About to Give Big Pharma the Big Tobacco Treatment, The New Republic

Economy
Exclusive: Foxconn reconsidering plans to make LCD panels at Wisconsin plant, Reuters
Technology Company Foxconn Is Rethinking Its $10 Billion Wisconsin Factory Amid Trump’s China Trade War, Time


Meet the folk hero of Davos: the writer who told the rich to stop dodging taxes, Vox

GOP
Supreme Court’s conservatives appear poised to expand Second Amendment gun rights, USA Today

Governor Tim Walz
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz proposes $30 million boost to local government aid, Star Tribune
UPDATE: Governor Walz cancels trip to meet with representatives from Minnesota Native American Bands, CBS 3 Duluth

Health Care
No, Medicare for All Is Not “Expensive”, Beat the Press
Opioids: Boston trial opens what could be year of reckoning for executives, The Guardian

Labor Movement
Building Worker Solidarity Across Borders, The American Prospect
Negotiations with the Board of Public Defense are About More Than Pay, Workday Minnesota

Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota lawmaker wants to end per-diem payments for legislators, Star Tribune
Minnesota has the only split state legislature in the nation — can we make it work?, City Pages
In powerful testimony, sexual violence victims ask Minnesota lawmakers for changes, Fox 9
Some Minnesota lawmakers have a plan to help federal workers — during the next shutdown, MinnPost
Paid family leave plan clears first Capitol hurdle but more remain, MPR

Minnesota News
A state task force wants self-driving cars on the road in Minnesota. Legislators aren’t so sure, MinnPost
Xcel says demand forced shut-off of natural gas to dozens of homes, MPR
The effects of near-extinction of the bison are still being felt by Native tribes today, MinnPost

News of the World
Recession in Italy fuels global slowdown fears, CNN
Canada Will Cut More Diplomats From Its Embassy in Cuba Following Another Mysterious Illness, Time

Representative Ilhan Omar
Rep. Ilhan Omar calls for sharp tax increases on the wealthy: ‘We’ve had it as high as 90 percent’, Yahoo News
Republican on Omar appointment: ‘Crazy to watch what Dems are empowering/elevating’, The Hill

Secretary of State Steve Simon
Minnesota’s top election official: ‘Voters may be disenfranchised’, Duluth News Tribune

Senator Tina Smith
Janitors, Cooks, and Other Government Contractors Are Still Fighting for Back Pay, New York Magazine
The lowest-paid federal workers aren’t getting shutdown pay. How will they pay the rent?, Curbed

Trump
Jerome Corsi’s claims about Roger Stone, WikiLeaks, and the Access Hollywood tape, explained, Vox
Even some Republicans balk as Trump targets US spy chiefs, CNN
How the religious right gained unprecedented access to Trump, The Guardian

Upcoming DFL Events

  • January 31, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Trivia Night, party room, Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies, 8061 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Join them for pizza and drinks at our first ever trivia night! $15 per person or $25 per couple. Covers pizza and one drink ticket.
  • February 1, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • February 2
    • 10:00 to 11:00 AM — SD44 Town Hall with Rep. Ginny Klevorn (HD44A) and Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B), Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447
    • 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — Rep. Mike Nelson Town Hall, Brooklyn Center Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN
    • 11:30 to 12:30 PM — SD50 Listening Session with Sen. Melissa Wiklund, Rep. Andrew Carlson and Rep. Michael Howard, Northwestern Health Science University, Lecture Room 2, 2501 W 84th St, Bloomington, MN 55431
  • February 3, 2:30 to 5:00 PM — DFL Disability Caucus annual Meeting and Elections, Rondo Public Library, 461 Dale St N. St. Paul, MN 55103
  • February 4, 5:00 to 8:00 PM — SD11 Special Election Phone Bank, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN 55439. More information and RSVP here.
  • February 5
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting,Teamsters Local 120 Hall, 9422 Ulysses St NE, Blaine, MN
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brooklyn Park Library, Mississippi Room
  • February 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • February 8, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • February 10, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting, contact SD40 DFL for more information
  • February 11
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chamber, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM  — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • February 12, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting,  more information as it becomes available
  • February 13
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD45 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Crystal City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55422
  • February 14 — Valentine’s Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Minnetonka Mills Room, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
  • February 15, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • February 18 — Presidents’ Day
    • 9:00 AM — DFL Senior Caucus Day on the Hill, AFL-CIO Capitol Office Building, 175 Aurora Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103. Registration at 9:00 AM. Program at 9:30 AM. Light breakfast and lunch available for a $5.00 donation. The event will focus on elder health justice
  • February 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • February 22, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.