Minnesota Legislature 9 , CD3 DFL

House Education Chairs’ Statement on Private School Vouchers

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA —House Education Chairs released the following statement on any inclusion of private school vouchers in the E-12 education budget:

“Aside from the fact that using private school vouchers in public education funding is unconstitutional, House DFLers and Minnesotans know public dollars belong in public schools, where 95% of Minnesota students receive their education.

“We encourage Republicans in the House and Senate to focus on negotiating an education budget grounded in reality, constitutionality, and most importantly, what’s best for Minnesota students and families.”

Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart

Week-in-Review Video

A message from your Senator

Constituents and friends,

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 28, 2021

Neighbors,

Though the regular legislative session adjourned last week, we’re still focused on finalizing our state budget. Before we adjourned, we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement on a budget framework, so now we’ll hammer out the details ahead of an anticipated June special session.

The good news is that the state is on the right path to ensure our students, families, workers, and small businesses get the investments they need to bounce back from the past year – thanks in part to the federal funds we received from the American Rescue Plan.

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: May 28, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

While the regular legislative session adjourned last week, my colleagues and I are still advocating for budgetary allocations for the issues most important to you – like healthcare, childcare, and public education. Although we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement on our budget framework before adjourning, the finer details of our budget continue to be negotiated. Right now, we’re looking at a June special session to pass our final budget.

Thanks in large part to the American Rescue Plan passed by the Democrats in Congress and signed into law by President Biden, Minnesota will have the resources to help those hit hardest by the pandemic. House DFLers are fighting for students, families, workers, and small businesses. We will be spending these next few weeks working with the Senate to ensure that as our state recovers, we don’t leave any Minnesotans behind.

Rep. Steve Elkins (HD49B) Update: May 28, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

About two weeks ago, the Star Tribune published an editorial entitled “Good government needed at capital”. It was a thought-provoking piece and I’ve been reflecting on it ever since. It’s worth going back and reading if you missed it. John Kaul, a longtime observer of the legislative process observed that “it used to be that almost every bill went through multiple hearings that looked into everything,” he said. “Every detail. Every group heard from.” “Policy deadlines were real, he said, so that bills could finish in time for conference committees to take the several weeks needed to negotiate differences in House and Senate bills.” Separately, House Speaker Melissa Hortman observed that, perhaps, the world has grown too complicated for the legislature to accomplish its work within the bounds of a constitutionally defined session which was established in a much simpler agrarian era when it was important that the legislature adjourned in time for farmers to attend to their fields over the summer. In the previous session, the legislature set two records. The first was for the most number of bills introduced in a session (over 6000). The second was for the least number of bills passed into law during a session in the modern era. The Covid 19 epidemic, which truncated the 2020 session, had a lot to do with that. Even so, there is no way that even a fraction of those bills was ever going to be put through the multi-stop committee process described by John Kaul.

Senate DFL Week in Review: May 28, 2021

Anniversary of George Floyd’s death
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Minnesota observes the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death

Tuesday, May 25, marked one year since George Floyd was murdered at the hands of Minneapolis police officer, Derrick Chauvin, in South Minneapolis. His death brought to the forefront the global consciousness of what Black communities have known about systemic racism and policing for years. Had Darnella Frasier not been there to bear witness to and record the event, it is likely Chauvin would have never faced accountability. Read more >>

Behind closed doors

Much of the work for the next two-year state budget was left unfinished at the close of the 2021 Legislative Session. With general budget spending targets not released until the last day of session, a special session will be needed to finish the work. In the meantime, working groups were assigned to negotiate which spending proposals in each budget conference committee would be included in the final bills. Working groups were expected to have these fiscal spreadsheets completed by May 28 and policy priorities agreed upon by June 4. As of Thursday, May 27, few details have emerged about the status of these negotiations. Read more >>

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: May 27, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

While the regular legislative session has concluded, our work continues. House and Senate majorities, in partnership with the governor reached a bipartisan agreement on a budget framework last week, and now our work is focused on crafting the finer details of the budget. Our current timeline has us working towards a special session in early or mid-June.

We've Reached Bipartisan Budget Framework

The good news is we can build a budget that will ensure all Minnesotans can recover from the hardships of the past year, thanks in part to the federal funds we received from the American Rescue Plan.

Working groups made up of House and Senate members are continuing to meet to complete their portions of the budget. I continue to lead negotiations with the Senate on the Commerce/Energy portion of the state budget. I look forward to updating you on the specifics of our budget soon.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: May 27, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you and yours well. With vaccination rates increasing and COVID-19 cases trending downward, a return to a normal summer is looking more and more likely.

Our work continues in the state legislature. Minnesota’s portion of the federal American Rescue Plan dollars arrived in the state in early May, which allowed House and Senate Majorities, along with the governor, to reach a bipartisan agreement on budget ‘targets’, or our general framework on May 17. Although we have officially adjourned to meet our constitutional deadline, legislators haven’t stopped working to craft the finer details of the budget. Our current timeline has us working towards a special session in early or mid-June.

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: May 25, 2021

Neighbors,

Last week, the regular legislative session adjourned. A budget framework was announced and is in place, and negotiators are working on the final two-year agreement. I will continue to advance priorities for Minnetonka and Eden Prairie and I appreciate your emails and calls.

One year ago today, we learned of the death of George Floyd. Our communities – and the world – reeled from his senseless death. This year at the Capitol, House DFLers moved a sweeping agenda for police reform and accountability, building on bipartisan legislation approved last year.

No matter where we live and how we look, everyone wants to make it home unharmed at the end of the day. Our efforts will continue to ensure every Minnesotan can feel safe in their communities and be treated with respect and fairness.

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 27, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you are staying safe and healthy. After more than a year of a pandemic, it’s looking more and more like a typical, wonderful Minnesota summer is ahead of us. COVID vaccines are safe, effective, and are bringing back a sense of normalcy that we have been missing for so long. If you haven’t gotten your vaccine yet, visit the Vaccine Connector to find a vaccine site near you. The state also has a number of community vaccination sites that are accepting walk-ins.

On another happy note, today is my birthday! I am officially past the half-century mark, and I intend to celebrate my birthday by eating chocolate cake in between negotiation meetings and phone calls.

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Week-in-Review Video

A message from your Senator

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