In the Know: June 23, 2021

Governor Tim Walz
Walz seeks funding for body cams for state troopers, Capitol security officers, Pioneer Press
MN lawmakers, Tim Walz agree on largest school funding increase in 15 years, Pioneer Press

Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota lawmakers make progress on budget bills in special session, Pioneer Press
With Unexpected Budget Surplus, Minnesota Legislature Passes Bill Featuring $1B in Tax Cuts, KNSI
Legislature slowly reaching agreements, session likely to push up to deadline, KSTP
Minnesota legislators agree to give $250M in bonuses to workers on pandemic’s front lines, Star Tribune

Minnesota News
Security Changes Coming To The Minnesota State Fair, CBS Minnesota
Minnesota to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging, Star Tribune
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Hospitalizations, cases tumble as pandemic wanes, MPR

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris News
Statement by President Joe Biden on the For the People Act, White House Press Office
Biden urges shots for young adults as variant concern grows, Associated Press
Kamala Harris set to visit Detroit next week to promote COVID vaccinations, Detroit News

Republican Party News
How Republicans Have Packed the Courts for Years, TIME
‘As Long as the Party Embraces Trump, It’s Going to Have Trouble’, Politico
So when is Trump going to turn on Gov. Ron DeSantis?, Washington Post
Gerrymandering Texas could help Republicans take back the House in 2022, PBS Newshour
‘Rogue city leaders’: How Republicans are taking power away from mayors, Politico

Republican Party in Minnesota
Dramatic twists over refinery bill test Republicans’ support from unions, Pioneer Press

U.S. News
Republicans Block Voting Rights Bill, Dealing Blow to Biden and Democrats, New York Times
Delta-variant rates doubled in the US in 2 weeks, Fauci said: from 9.9% to 20.6%. It could derail the US COVID-19 recovery, Business Insider
US Capitol attack: first defendant in 6 January riot expected to be sentenced, The Guardian
Texas G.O.P. to Renew Voting Push as Abbott Calls Special Session, New York Times

U.S. Representative Angie Craig (CD2, D)
Importance of biofuels highlighted on Capitol Hill, FarmProgress

U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (CD4, D)
St. Paul’s ReConnect Rondo Is Working to Right Past Highway Development Wrongs, Next City

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Voting bill championed by Klobuchar blocked in Senate, Star Tribune

U.S. Senator Tina Smith
Energy efficiency’s job potential, Politico

Upcoming Events:

You can find non-DFL events on our Action Alert post.

• June 27, 12:00 to 4:00 PM — SD45 DFL Community Picnic, 8130 Bass Lake Rd, New Hope, MN 55428, more information here.
• June 28, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD47 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
• July 29, 5:30 PM — Minnesota DFL LGBTQ Leadership Pride Month Event with Gov. Kate Brown, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, State Sen. Scott Dibble and State Rep. Heather Keeler. More information and RSVP here.

• July 1 — Somali Independence Day
• July 3
  • 9:30 to 11:30 AM — SD49 DFL Marching in the Edina Independence Day Parade, contact them for more information or to volunteer.
  • 10:00 AM — Coffee with Hennepin County Commissioner LaTondresse, first Saturday of each month. Log in here.
• July 4 — Independence Day
• July 5 — Independence Day (observed)
• July 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD37 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
• July 7
  • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
• July 8
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
• July 12
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
• July 14, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD48 DFL Electric Vehicle Event, location coming shortly
• July 17, 12:00 to 3:00 PM — SD49 DFL Picnic, Rosland Park Shelter, 4300 W 66th St, Edina, MN 55435. Join them for a great opportunity to meet statewide, legislative officials as well as local office holders and candidates in Bloomington and Minnetonka

• August 26 through September 6 — Minnesota State Fair
• August 28 — DFL Volunteer Day at Minnesota State Fair, more information to come