In the Know: May 15, 2019

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota Joins Massive Lawsuit Over Generic Drugs, WCCO
Rochester Woman on Alleged Drug Price Fixing: “These Companies will have People’s Deaths on their Hands”, ABC 6 News

Economy
Bad economic news: US retail sales fell in April, CNN
Economists flee Agriculture Dept. after feeling punished under Trump, Politico

GOP
Republicans look to reclaim dozens of House seats in 2020 after midterm ‘blue wave’ wipeout, Driscoll Register

Governor Tim Walz
Governor Walz issues Executive Order providing regulatory relief for MN farmers, Austin Daily Herald
Gov. Walz Offers Reduced Gas Tax Hike As Budget Meetings Continue, WCCO

Labor
Democrats have an ambitious plan to save American labor unions, Vox

Minnesota Legislative Session
How Senate Republicans’ ‘no new taxes’ stance became the driving force of the 2019 Legislature, MinnPost
What’s the holdup? 4 issues keeping DFL, GOP from a deal at the Capitol, MPR
Local politicos debate felon voter rights issue, reject DFL proposal, The Lake Country Echo
The long-simmering fight over wolf hunting in Minnesota is political — and emotional, MinnPost
Republican lawmakers shoot down gun safety measures, Bring Me the News
Minnesota gun control proposals hit obstacle in conference committee, Star Tribune

Minnesota News
Washington ranked as top state, Louisiana, Alabama last in US News rankings [Editor’s Note: Minnesota Ranked #3, The Hill
Google’s $600 million data center project in Becker clears big hurdle, Star Tribune
Report: Cost of housing in Twin Cities region on track to rival Denver, Seattle, MPR
How bad is Minnesota’s student-debt situation?, MinnPost

News of the World
State Department orders non-essential staff to leave Iraq amid escalating tensions with Iran, USA Today

Representative Angie Craig
How Democrats Who Beat Republicans Last Year Plan to Keep Their Seats, NY Times
Spiral Brewery named Small Business Hero by Angie Craig, Hastings Star Gazette

Representative Jim Hagedorn
The rerun candidates eying 2020, Politico

Representative Pete Stauber
Counterpoint: Automobile industry is truly a global endeavor, and tariffs do not help, Star Tribune

Secretary of State Steve Simon

Trade Wars
Farm Union President calls Trump’s proposed $15 billion subsidy and insufficient, ‘temporary’ solution, Newsweek
Trump’s puzzling trade war with China, sort of explained, Vox
Trump’s Trade War With China Could Cost the Average Family Up to $2,300 a Year, Report Estimates, Time
Republicans stick with Trump on China — but sound the alarm on other tariffs, CNN
President Trump’s Trade War With China Wiped $1 Trillion Off Global Markets in a Single Day, Time

Trump
Most Americans think Trump is a successful businessman. Until they learn about his losses., USA Today
Complaints grow that Trump staffers are campaigning for their boss, Politico

U.S. News
Ron DeSantis ‘not allowed’ to disclose which two Florida counties were hacked by Russians, Tampa Bay Times
‘It’s my homeland’: how a Native lawmaker is defying Trump’s drilling push, The Guardian
U.S. birth rate continues to fall, MPR
South Dakota’s GOP governor says Trump’s trade has ‘devastated’ her state. State still loves Trump, Daily KOS
How bad prosecutors fuel America’s mass incarceration problem, Vox

Women’s Health
Alabama ban on nearly all abortions in GOP governor’s hands, Star Tribune
Alabama’s abortion bill could put doctors in prison for life: Here’s what to know, USA Today

Upcoming DFL Events

• Today through June 5 — Ramadan
• May 15, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
• May 17
  • 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.
  • 5:00 to 9:00 PM — SD34 DFL Spring Into 2020 Community Gathering and Fundraiser. Join them for a casual supper for community members to socialize, organize and fundraise so they can work together in the 2020 campaign season. Children welcome. RSV by Wednesday May 15 to chair@sd34dfl.org.
• May 19, 12:00 to 4:00 PM — DFL Senior Caucus Convention, Sheet Metal Workers’ Union Hall, 1681 Cope Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55109
• May 20 — Minnesota Legislative Session Ends
• May 24
  • 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.
  • 6:00 to 9:00 PM — 8th Annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner with Special Guest Speaker Pelosi, Minnesota Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Interested in sitting at a CD3 table?  Email Cheryl Poling.
• May 27 — Memorial Day
• May 29 through May 31, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM — SD40 DFL Garage Sale, 2709 Pearson Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN
• May 31, 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.
• June 4
  • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their Facebook page for specifics
  • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
• June 5
  • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172
• June 7, 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.
• June 8, 8:30 to 5:45 PM — 4th Biennial DFL Training Summit, Metropolitan State University, 700 7th St E, St. Paul, MN 55106.  More information and register here.
• June 9, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club, contact them for more information.
• June 10
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
• June 13, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
• June 14, 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.
• June 16 — Fathers’ Day
• June 19, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345