Minnesota Legislature 58 , CD3 DFL

Minnesota legislators Paul Gazelka, Kurt Daudt join Republican push to reverse Big Ten decision

Two from Minnesota join 8 others in GOP effort to open fall sports season.

Two Minnesota legislators have joined other lawmakers from states with Big Ten universities, asking the conference to overturn its decision to cancel fall sports.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, and House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, were two of 10 legislators signing a letter written by Michigan House of Representatives speaker Lee Chatfield. All are Republicans from six states — including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Wisconsin.

The letter went to Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren as well as all of the institutions’ presidents and chancellors. Continue reading.

Republicans could oust more of Gov. Tim Walz’s agency heads

Senators see leverage over what they call overreach.

Several state agency leaders’ jobs — and the fraying relationship between GOP lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz — could hang in the balance of an upcoming special session of the Legislature.

The DFL governor is expected to call the fourth session of the summer on Friday, despite the possibility that Senate Republicans could use the occasion to vote out more members of his administration.

Republican opposition to the governor’s use of emergency powers for the pandemic came to a head in August when they rejected Nancy Leppink as the leader of the Department of Labor and Industry. Continue reading.

Minnesota House Announces Membership of New Select Committee on Racial Justice, Schedules First Public Meeting for Sept. 22

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – House Speaker Melissa Hortman today announced the membership of the new House Select Committee on Racial Justice and scheduled its first public meeting for September 22. The committee is responsible for examining disparities Minnesotans of color face regarding health, public safety, education, employment, housing and other areas.

Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights) and Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul) will co-chair the committee. Rep. Lisa Demuth (R – Cold Spring) will serve as vice chair.

“Minnesota can never truly prosper as a state if it doesn’t guarantee equitable opportunities to every resident, regardless of their race,” said Rep. Richardson. “The House’s new select committee is long overdue and it represents a commitment to bring about meaningful change.”

“I’m proud we have this forum in the Minnesota House to dive deeply into the impacts Black, Indigenous and People of Color still face in our state, which affect their health, safety, and overall wellbeing,” said Rep. Moran. “While racism’s harm to public health isn’t new, this year’s events have shined a light on the problem and it’s a pivotal time to tackle the crisis head-on.”

In July, the House approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis in Minnesota, noting more than 100 studies have linked racism to worse health outcomes, while Black and Indigenous communities experience the highest death rates. Additionally, several medical organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and the American Public Health Association have recognized that racism is a social determinant for health, with a profound impact across an individual’s lifespan, along with other long-standing, unaddressed disparities and socioeconomic inequities as a result of systemic racism.

“I’m grateful to Reps. Richardson and Moran for co-chairing this important Select Committee, and to Rep. Demuth for serving as Vice Chair. I look forward to the committee’s recommendations,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “We have to dismantle the structural racism inherent in our own institution and address our state’s inexcusable racial inequities.”

“It’s clear that racial disparities are entrenched in our communities and run deep to the foundations that shape policing, education, housing, employment, health, and more,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “The House needs to examine itself and address racism for what it is — an economic and public health crisis.”

Other members include Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL – Roseville), Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL – Edina), Rep. Kaohly Her (DFL – Saint Paul), Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL – Spring Lake Park), Rep. Sandy Layman (R – Cohasset), Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Anne Neu (R – North Branch), Rep. Steve Sandell (DFL – Woodbury), and Rep. Dean Urdahl (R – Grove City).

The first hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Minnesota lawmakers receive update about Chronic Wasting Disease

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Members of the House and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance committees held a joint meeting today to discuss the status of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Minnesota. The informational hearing featured testimony from experts at the University of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources, Board of Animal Health, and Pollution Control Agency.

“We have seen the number of fishing licenses increase significantly this year and I predict that hunting licenses will see a similar rise,” said committee chair Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul). “We need to continue our outreach and education to all hunters, especially new hunters, to ensure that all Minnesotans are safe and our outdoors and wildlife are protected.”

Today’s joint meeting was part of a quarterly series required under bipartisan legislation enacted in 2019, and legislators largely focused on preparations for the fall hunting season. A brand new educational booklet produced by the University of Minnesota is available here.

“Over the last year we have reached over 5,400 Minnesotans through in person and Zoom outreach events and we are continuing to adapt our approach in the wake of COVID-19,” said Dr. Peter Larsen, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota.

The U of M’s new educational booklet includes a glossary of relevant terms and illustrations that break down CWD in an easy-to-understand format. Hard copies will be distributed throughout Minnesota this month. For the first time, educational materials have been translated into Hmong, and there are plans to create an Ojibwe translation soon.

Video of the entire meeting available here.

POCI Caucus Statement on the Shooting of Jacob Blake

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The members of the Minnesota Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus issued the following statement in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin police:

“We know too well the immense pain Jacob Blake, his family, and his community are going through. We express our deepest sympathies and wish Mr. Blake a healthful recovery.

“Recent reports show that while he has survived this vicious attack, he is paralyzed from the waist down, potentially permanently. These merciless shootings and the trauma they inflict upon our communities must stop. Mr. Blake’s children bore witness to this terrifying act in a scene all too familiar to that of the murder of Philando Castille. The trauma and pain they will carry with them for the rest of their lives is incalculable. The systematic murder and terrorizing of Black Americans must end.

Rep. Huot, state representatives host listening session dedicated to the state of Emergency Medical Services amid COVID-19 pandemic

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA. – Today, State Rep. John Huot (DFL-Rosemount) hosted a remote public meeting with regional Emergency Medical Services boards and over 80 EMS workers to engage in a discussion about the state of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) since the onset of COVID-19. A bipartisan group of representatives were in attendance: Rep. Jamie-Becker Finn (DFL-Roseville), Rep. Ginny Klevorn (DFL-Plymouth), and Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar). Attendees and legislators primarily focused on recruitment and retention of EMS volunteers, which has been an ongoing challenge pre-pandemic. NBC reported last year that 1/3 of rural America faces an EMS shortage.

“This is certainly not a new problem, but an important one we must address, especially now more than ever,” said Rep. Huot. “Our EMS workers, most of whom are volunteers, are on the frontlines working hard to keep us all safe and healthy every day. My job is to listen and do all I can to help these first responders get the resources they need.”

Many volunteer EMS workers on the call expressed concerns about retaining current volunteers, as many are older, more likely to contract the virus, and are close to retirement age.

Summer’s third special session a quick one — but leaders say ‘unfinished business’ remains

The DFL-controlled House reaffirmed Gov. Tim Walz’s pandemic-related emergency powers — by rejecting a move to bring up a resolution aimed at ending them — and also passed more than $30 million in grant assistance for disability service providers before wrapping up a four-hour special session Wednesday afternoon.

Walz last week called lawmakers back together for the third time this summer in order to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency declaration in place since March. Like the special sessions in June and July, the Republican-controlled Senate passed a resolution to end that emergency. But a House motion to take up its own resolution to end the emergency was again unsuccessful.

Both chambers must vote to end a peacetime emergency. Continue reading.

DFL Party Statement on Senate GOP’s Decision to Oust Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement on Minnesota Senate Republicans’ decision to fire Nancy Leppink, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner, during the middle of a pandemic:

“Senate Republicans are once again jeopardizing the health and safety of Minnesotans by playing politics during the middle of a pandemic. Minnesota is faced with the extremely difficult task of getting folks safely back to work as quickly as possible, and Senate Republicans’ surprise decision to fire our state’s Labor and Industry Commissioner will make that so much harder.

“Now more than ever, we need strong voices for the health and safety of working people at the decision-making table. Unfortunately, Republicans fired one of the best advocates for the well-being of working Minnesotans out there. This desperate ambush shows that Republicans would rather score political points than help Minnesotans stay safe and recover from the impact of COVID-19.”

Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: August 12, 2020

Friends and Neighbors,

We were recently informed by acting Minnesota Senate Information Technology Director, Robert Ludden, of a problem related to the webform filter in conjunction with our Senate email address. The Senate website was hacked on June 2nd, so the webforms that our office uses had to be taken down. In turn SIS tried to replicate the process of emails transferring into our Senate emails. However, they were not able to get a notification system created that would alert the member or staff when these emails came in.

Because of this, I apologize as I may have missed an important email that you sent my office. I want to continue hearing from you. You can now send emails directly to sen.melisa.franzen@senate.mn, or you can reach me by phone at my cell 612-968-4566.

Thank you for your continued support and patience.

Sincerely,

Melisa

Minnesota House of Representatives Passes Disability Service Retention and Public Health Grants Bill

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House passed legislation that provides $30.4 million of federalThe Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for disability service retention and public health grants. This bill is designed to allow disability services providers to stay in operation as the state continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota Senate passed the bill earlier today and Governor Walz is expected to sign it into law.

“It is critical that we do not leave anyone behind during this pandemic. Supporting Minnesotans with disabilities and their families must be one of our highest priorities. This bill will provide a vital lifeline to our day and employment service providers for Minnesotans with disabilities,” said Rep. Hunter Cantrell (DFL – Savage.) “While there is much work that still needs to be done, such as securing hazard pay increases for personal care attendants, this bill moves Minnesota in the right direction.”

“We have reached an agreement to provide funding to entities that serve people with disabilities,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “These providers have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am pleased we are able to use federal CARES Act funding to assist them.”

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