Week four of Legislative Session is behind us and bills are moving steadily through committees. In Human Services Reform where I am honored to be ranking member, we had some deep discussion on bills related to workforce shortages with Personal Care Assistance, support for parents of children with disabilities, and increasing inclusion of all people in Minnesota in their communities.
The Governor also released his budget proposal and the Health and Human Services budget was presented at a high level in Committee on Thursday. There were some impressive investments met with equally disappointing cuts to key service areas. You can find more details on that within this newsletter, and as I learn more I will share it with you all. There are also some Vaccine updates as the state works to ensure we utilize the vaccines we have swiftly.
Welcome to the end of our fourth week in session, a week filled with conversations surrounding the budget. Governor Walz released his 2022 – 2023 budget priorities on Tuesday, and we are working our way through the recommendations. The budget recommendations come directly from Governor Walz’s office, not budget recommendations that the Minnesota Senate. There is a lot to unpack in these recommendations, but we will be going through specific sections during committees. On Thursday, Commissioner Harpstead joined the Human Services Reform Committee as we dove into the 479 page Human Services budget recommendation.
Along with budget recommendations, this week Governor Walz released the Due North Education Plan. This education reform plan aims to address the education needs brought on and continued with the pandemic. This plan prioritizes equitable education for all Minnesota students regardless of race, income level, or geographic location. It also focuses on funding for mental health, funding summer school programs, and early childhood education.
In COVID-19 vaccine rollout news, there has been a change in the system. The new lottery system in place allows people 24 hours to pre-register and then individuals are chosen randomly selected for an appointment. The Minnesota Department of Health has noted that the pilot sites are just the beginning of the vaccine rollout and will not be the way that most Minnesotans will receive their vaccine. As Minnesota gets more vaccines from the federal government, more locations will open, and people will be able to get the vaccine at their health care provider’s office or local pharmacy.
I encourage you to join the first Senate District 49 Town Hall of 2021 in coordination with the League of Women Voters Edina and LWV Bloomington. I will join Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL – House District 49A) and Rep. Steve Elkins (DFL – House District 49B) on Tuesday, February 9th from 7:00 – 8:30 P.M to address a series of important issues to the community, answer questions, and preview the 2021 legislative session priorities. To join the Zoom participants will need to RSVP, and while signing up, you will be able to submit questions. The Zoom invite will be sent out the day before and will be live streamed to Facebook.
We’re just about done with our first month of the 2021 legislative session, and work is ramping up. This week, I presented my first bill of session in the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, where I also serve as the vice chair. My bill, which would cap fees for restaurants that partner with third-party food delivery services, passed its first hurdle in this committee and is on its way to another hearing in Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.
Throughout the pandemic, many Minnesotans have taken advantage of ordering delivery from their local restaurants – this serves a dual purpose of keeping your family safe and healthy with a restaurant meal at home while supporting a local business during these challenging times. The hospitality industry is facing an uphill road to recovery and this bill will provide much-needed relief to local businesses across the state and ensure they can continue serving our communities now and into the future.
This week in the Health Finance and Policy Committee, we heard legislation that aims to make sure everyone has access to affordable healthcare. Small business owners are one group who have been hurt by health plans with high premiums and high deductibles. The testifiers, including family farmers and “ma and pop” shop owners, told compelling stories about the difficult choices, worries, and heartaches that come from trying to maintain access to affordable healthcare for themselves, their families, and their employees. In addition to expanding the number of people who would be able to enroll in a public option, the bill is structured to maximize federal funding and to increase competition. New enrollees will be able to take advantage of lower out-of-pocket costs and access to a strong network of providers. You can watch the hearing here.
In the Preventive Health committee, we heard about the threat to public health caused by climate change. Extreme weather events (storms, floods, and droughts), degraded air quality, and infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks as they expand territory, are examples of how climate change is creating a health crisis in Minnesota and the world. You can watch the committee hearing here.
The resolution condemned violence at the U.S. and state capitols and declared support for 2020 election results.
Eight GOP state representatives voted against a resolution Monday that condemned recent violence at the U.S. and state capitols, and declared support for the certified 2020 election results.
The resolution was introduced following a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, in which a mob stormed the halls of Congress while lawmakers were certifying electoral college results.
The resolution read: “A House resolution condemning violence and violent rhetoric directed at our United States Capitol and state capitols, and affirming support for democracy, rule of law, and the certified results of Minnesota’s election and the elections of the other states.” Continue reading.
I hope you and yours are doing well. We’re one month down in the 2021 Legislative Session, and we’ve spent most of this month laying the groundwork for our legislative priorities. As chair of the State Government Finance and Elections Committee, one piece of legislation I’m proud to co-author is House File 9, which is part of the Democracy for the People Act.
Today, we finished the first committee stop for this legislation, which would strengthen and protect our democracy. Minnesotans hold free and fair elections in extremely high regard, as shown by our consistent leadership in statewide voter turnout. The Democracy for the People Act steps up during a critical time for our democracy and says that no matter your party, region, race, or age – our democracy needs to work for all Minnesotans.
Earlier this week on the House floor, I helped write and submit a resolution condemning violence and violent rhetoric directed at the United States Capitol and state capitols, as well as affirming support for democracy, rule of law, and the certified results of our election.
The insurrection on January 6th cut a deep wound into our democracy that will only heal if we stand together to denounce both the violence and what preceded it – unprecedented attempts to discredit our free and fair elections. Passing this resolution is our opportunity to state that now and in the future, the Minnesota House of Representatives will stand for reason, truth and democracy.
Governor’s budget proposal unveiled and everything happening in the Legislature this week.
Governor Walz announces COVID-19 recovery budget
Minnesota lawmakers are constitutionally required to set a 2022-2023 budget before June 30 this year, and Governor Walz took the first step in this process this week by announcing his budget priorities. The proposal is focused on helping Minnesotans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by investing in schools and students, businesses, and working families. Read more >>
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA –Today, the House Commerce Committee advanced legislation authored by vice chair Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie) to cap fees for restaurants that partner with third-party food delivery services.
“Throughout the pandemic, many Minnesotans have taken advantage of ordering delivery from their local restaurants – this serves a dual purpose of keeping your family safe and healthy with a restaurant meal at home while supporting a local business during these challenging times,” said Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn. “The hospitality industry is facing an uphill road to recovery and this bill will provide much-needed relief to local businesses across the state and ensure they can continue serving our communities now and into the future.”
While the business model and fees for the third-party delivery platforms vary from one another, many eateries have reported paying commission of over 30% of the purchase price of the order.
The first pawn in a months-long budgetary game of chess has been played.
Calling it the “Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget,” Gov. Tim Walz unveiled his $52.4 billion 2022-23 budget proposal Tuesday, that includes tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans and big corporations, further assistance for struggling smaller businesses, help for students falling behind and dipping into the state’s budget reserve.
“We know that when workers are supported, when children are supported, when quality of life is supported, it creates an economic environment where things thrive,” Walz said. “We’re going to ask those that are most fortunate and those corporations that have profited during this time to pay a fair share to make sure we can continue to provide the services we need. Continue reading.
