Category: Minnesota Legislature

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: July 16, 2020

Neighbors,

Thank you to everyone who completed my summer survey. I appreciate your input on issues impacting Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and our entire state. The survey reinforced what we already know about our communities – we care about each other and want to help one another succeed. You can view the results by clicking here.

District 48 Town Hall

Senator Cwodzinski, Rep. Koytza-Witthuhn and I invite you to our latest town hall next Thursday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m. You can view the meeting on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/replauriepryor/

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Sen. Melissa Wiklund (SD50) Update: July 16, 2020

July 16, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’ve had some time to enjoy summer! Although we aren’t able to do many things that we normally would, there are still opportunities to get outside and enjoy the weather. I’d encourage you to visit our many state parks and recreation areas and historic sites. Personally, I’m a fan of the Nine Mile Creek Trail in Bloomington (pictured below).

I am continuing to work on the issues that I’ve been hearing about from our neighbors, including police accountability and criminal justice reform, a bonding bill, and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic challenges we face as a result. I am committed to working on the tough issues that matter to our neighbors in Richfield and Bloomington, and across Minnesota.

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Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: July 16, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Legislators reconvened Monday for the second special session to begin another round of negotiations and compromise on additional COVID-19 relief measures, criminal justice and public safety reform, and a jobs and local projects or “bonding” bill. I am pleased to share many of our community’s priorities have been included in an agreed upon bill with the Senate, including Mississippi Point Park, CR Recycling, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College in the agreement. The House minority has yet to come to the table on this reasonable and modest plan to fix our public infrastructure across the state, and I hope they will join us as we work together with the governor to find common ground on these important issues.

Hire a Veteran Month

The governor has declared July “Hire A Veteran Month” in Minnesota to bring awareness to the extensive skills our veterans bring to the workplace – and to encourage employers to hire veterans not only this month, but throughout the year. About 308,000 veterans live in our state and 153,000 of them are of working age. Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: July 16, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: July 16, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

We’re now in our second special session of 2020, and much of the work ahead is the same as before – responding to COVID-19 and its impact on the health and welfare of each Minnesotan and the future of our state, crafting common sense social justice and police accountability measures, and passing a robust jobs and local projects (or bonding) bill. As I continue to work on these and other issues, I want to hear from you.

When you have a few minutes, please complete this brief survey covering our community’s priorities and the impact of the pandemic on you and your family. You can access the survey here. Your input and feedback helps to shape my priorities during the interim and any future special sessions. I greatly appreciate your participation in our legislative process. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: July 16, 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: July 16, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Special Session

On Monday, the House and Senate convened in a special session called by Governor Walz. The governor has extended the current peacetime emergency so he can continue to access the state’s toolbox to take quick, decisive action to protect Minnesotans through the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the House voted to extend the governor’s emergency powers for another week. We can’t get complacent now after all of our sacrifice and hard work; we have seen that states that reduce precautions too quickly suffer from a major spike in cases.

This special session is an opportunity to finish important work for the people of Minnesota. After George Floyd’s killing, Minnesotans are still demanding improvements to public safety for everyone, in every community, so they can have confidence in law enforcement. We will continue to work to enact strong police accountability measures like the ones the House approved in the last special session. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: July 16, 2020”

Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: July 15, 2020


Dear Friends,

This year has been one of the most challenging in our state’s entire history. Our world was turned upside down by the arrival of COVID-19, a health care challenge that continues to put lives at risk while having already claimed the lives of over 1,400 Minnesotans. The effects of the pandemic has resulted in the closure of thousands of businesses throughout our state, forcing hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans out of work.

In the midst of this pandemic, we also witnessed the horrific murder of George Floyd. His death saw tens of thousands of protesters and demonstrators taking to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The sickening scene recorded on camera outraged me and has resulted in many calls and e-mails for police reform. I will deal with that issue head on, while knowing full well that what happened in Minneapolis is not indicative of the attitudes and practices of all police officers or police departments. In 26 years as an elected official, I have never once heard a complaint about our local police. So, as a legislature we need to act now to send a clear message that we will not tolerate racial injustice; however, we must not make one-size-fits-all laws regarding police and judicial reform. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: July 15, 2020”

Rep. Steve Elkins (HD50B) Update: July 15, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Special Session

On Monday, the House and Senate convened in a special session called by Governor Walz. The governor has extended the current peacetime emergency so he can continue to access the state’s toolbox to take quick, decisive action to protect Minnesotans through the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the House voted to uphold the governor’s emergency powers for another 30 days. We can’t get complacent now after all of our sacrifice and hard work; we have seen that states that reduce precautions too quickly suffer from a major spike in cases.

This special session is an opportunity to finish important work for the people of Minnesota. After George Floyd’s killing, Minnesotans are still demanding improvements to public safety so everyone, in every community, can have confidence in law enforcement. We will continue working to enact strong police accountability measures like the ones the House approved in the last special session. Continue reading “Rep. Steve Elkins (HD50B) Update: July 15, 2020”

Rep. Erin Koegel (HD37A) Update: July 15, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Special Session

On Monday, the House and Senate convened in a special session called by Governor Walz. The governor has extended the current peacetime emergency so he can continue to access the state’s toolbox to take quick, decisive action to protect Minnesotans through the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the House voted to uphold the governor’s emergency powers for another 30 days. We can’t get complacent now after all of our sacrifice and hard work; we have seen that states that reduce precautions too quickly suffer from a major spike in cases.

This special session is an opportunity to finish important work for the people of Minnesota. After George Floyd’s killing, Minnesotans are still demanding improvements to public safety so everyone, in every community, can have confidence in law enforcement. We will continue working to enact strong police accountability measures like the ones the House approved in the last special session. Continue reading “Rep. Erin Koegel (HD37A) Update: July 15, 2020”

Nearly $2 billion bonding bill heads for House Floor, but prospects for passage uncertain

One of 2020’s top legislative priorities for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle has once again reached the House Floor as the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday passed a $1.8 billion bonding bill that also includes many of this year’s most significant tax provisions.

But whether that bill has enough votes to pass the full body remains an open question despite a potential agreement between House DFLers and Senate Republicans that had been negotiated before the start of the Legislature’s second special session, which began Monday.

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown), SSHF3, as modified by a delete-all amendment, would fund hundreds of public construction projects around Minnesota, provide tax relief for small businesses and farmers, and provide a much-needed boost to the state’s economy, according to supporters. Continue reading.

Gun safety group plans to spend $1M to flip Minnesota Senate

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A major gun control group with ties to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday it plans to spend at least $1 million to try to flip the Minnesota Senate to Democratic control and keep the Minnesota House in the hands of lawmakers who back its positions.

The Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund has targeted the state Senate because Republicans hold just a three-vote majority there. But GOP senators have blocked legislation supported by the Democratic-controlled House and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for universal background checks on gun sales and a “red flag law” that would allow courts to temporarily confiscate guns from people judged to be an imminent threat to themselves or others.

The fund and an affiliated group, Moms Demand Action, are focusing on 12 Senate districts now held by Republicans, mostly in the Twin Cities suburbs, Rochester and St. Cloud. They’re also targeting five GOP-held House districts while trying to defend a dozen legislative seats held by supporters. Their first ad attacks GOP lawmakers for refusing to consider the two gun control bills. Continue reading.