Category: SD36

Minnesota House establishes Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced the formation of a Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding. The Select Committee will review the federal and state responses to the COVID19 pandemic to date and will assess policy changes needed moving forward.

“COVID-19 may reshape Minnesota for years to come, and the public policy challenges it presents are enormous,” said Speaker Hortman. “We are forming this Select Committee to take a deep-dive on these policy challenges as we work to respond to this pandemic and to rebuild Minnesota as a better and stronger state.”

The Select Committee will take a closer look at the pandemic’s impact on Minnesotans, what the state and federal government have done so far to respond, and possible future responses, including ensuring workplace safety and protecting workers’ rights, and broader societal changes — for example, ways education might be changed in the fall due to COVID-19. Continue reading “Minnesota House establishes Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding”

Minnesota House expected to ratify state employee contracts

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to ratify state employee contracts. Approximately 50,000 state employees are covered under these contracts, and the contracts are currently in effect.

“Our state employees provide essential services for the people of Minnesota — including critical work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The Legislature should ratify these contracts, which were negotiated in good faith and that have been in place for months. The Legislature gets an up or down vote, and does not have a role in negotiating different terms. A no vote or a failure to act by the House and Senate means pay cuts and chaos for state employee health insurance benefits. There will be a time to deal with the state budget deficit in the future, and decisions may be made that impact future state employee contracts. State employees and the Administration have fairly negotiated these contracts, and they should be approved.”

“We owe it to those who keep our state running — including during a pandemic — to follow through on our promises to them and their families,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “During this economic crisis, we should protect these essential services and the basic economic security of the people we’re asking to step in to serve all of us.” Continue reading “Minnesota House expected to ratify state employee contracts”

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: May 9, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I am pleased to report the House passed my COVID-19 economic security legislation. My bill includes measures for emergency housing assistance for homeowners, renters, and landlords, an overdue wage increase for personal care assistants, funding to expand broadband access, and my legislation to help our smallest mom and pop businesses. You can watch my remarks on the bill here.

This relief package helps get to the heart of what Minnesotans expect and deserve during a global pandemic: a roof over our heads; economic security for those who take care of the most vulnerable in our society; basic internet access; and support for our smallest businesses who haven’t been able to tap into federal relief funds. The funding for this package would come from the state’s $1.87 billion share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, if available.

House Economic Agenda Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: May 9, 2020”

Minnesota House Expected to Pass Bipartisan ‘Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act’

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to pass today the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (SF 1098), a bill to address skyrocketing prescription drug pricing. Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven), a practicing physician, is the chief author of the bipartisan legislation.

“We know that Minnesotans are paying too much for prescription drugs,” said Rep. Morrison. “The cost of many drugs has skyrocketed to the point that they are becoming inaccessible to the people that need them to survive and thrive. Pharmaceutical companies create life-changing and life-sustaining medications, but they are useless if people can’t afford them.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Pass Bipartisan ‘Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act’”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 9, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

The pace continues to pick up as we near the end of the 2020 Legislative Session. The House passed several important pieces of legislation this week, including a strong economic security package to assist Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. COVID-19 and social distancing make it harder to connect with the people we love, but it’s also given us time to reflect on the relationships we treasure most — especially our family members. Thank you to all of our moms for all you do, and I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Here’s a quick update on Minnesota’s ongoing response to COVID-19. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 9, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 8, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are staying safe. I want to update you as the formal legislative session nears its end. We will likely meet somewhat regularly with special sessions throughout the summer and fall as needed to address COVID-19 related legislation and funding. Minnesota will be receiving roughly two billion dollars in federal aid. While it is earmarked for what it can be used for, we can help decide where each dollar is spent within each category assigned.

I will be working to ensure we take care of affected Minnesotans and that every dollar impacts our citizens positively in handling this crisis. Our Governor has also continued to open up different operations with proper safety procedures and equipment in place. We continue to make progress and a large part of that is those who have reached out to me to let me know what it is that affects you most so that I can advocate in the Legislature and to the Governor what it is you need. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 8, 2020”

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on the Minnesota COVID-19 Fund

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Friday, Governor Walz called on the Minnesota Legislature to replenish and extend the Minnesota COVID-19 fund. The $200 million fund has $65 million remaining and is set to expire on May 11.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“We support extending the Minnesota COVID-19 Fund, and the House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill to do so today,” said Speaker Hortman. “We also support replenishing the fund as quickly as possible. The Walz Administration needs the flexibility to move quickly — more quickly than the legislative process sometimes allows — to purchase critical items for our COVID response. We are continuing conversations with Republicans in the House and Senate to pass legislation as soon as possible.”

 “Minnesota’s COVID-19 Fund has been well-used by the Walz Administration to buy personal protective equipment, ventilators, alternative care facilities, and, most recently, a facility for temporary storage of human remains  — all with proper legislative oversight,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “It’s critical for the Legislature to extend this fund and invest additional dollars.”  

Minnesota House expected to pass COVID-19 economic security legislation

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Yesterday afternoon, the Minnesota House of Representatives was expected to pass a package of COVID-19 economic security legislation. The bill, HF 1507, contains provisions for housing assistance, a temporary wage increase for personal care assistants, funding to expand broadband access, and small business loans.

“Minnesotans’ economic security has been hit hard during this public health crisis, and we have the resources to help them through the roughest patches of the pandemic,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Today, the Minnesota House is taking an important step to help Minnesotans keep a roof over their heads, preserve their small businesses, facilitate distance learning and telemedicine, and ensure we have the workforce we need to provide care for the vulnerable.”

“Minnesota has the resources we need to address this crisis; we just need the will to act,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesotans need investments in the things that will help them make it through this crisis and thrive after it, including quality health care, economic security, a good education, and safe and healthy communities. Minnesota can and should invest in Minnesotans to ensure their economic security now and into the future.” Continue reading “Minnesota House expected to pass COVID-19 economic security legislation”

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: May 6, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

We learned yesterday that Minnesota faces a $2.4 billion deficit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to report, however, that the responsible budgeting decisions we made last year have left the state with $2.3 billion in our state’s rainy-day fund. The prudent decisions we made before will allow us to manage this deficit without disastrous cuts or tax increases.

In addition, the federal stimulus package from several weeks ago (the CARES Act) provided the state with nearly $2 billion in aid. There have been discussions in Washington, D.C. about additional aid to state and local governments. These federal funds will allow the state to offer new aid to members of our community that are suffering during the pandemic, which includes my bill to provide forgivable loans to small businesses.

But the good news today doesn’t guarantee good news tomorrow. If the pandemic worsens, or if a “second wave” materializes in the fall, our state’s budget could fall further into deficit. We will need to continue to be cautious and responsible as we think about how to manage the state’s finances. Read more here. Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: May 6, 2020”

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on budget projection

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Minnesota Management and Budget released an updated budget projection showing a projected $2.426 billion deficit in the current biennium. Minnesota currently has $350 million in the state’s cash flow account and $2.359 billion in the budget reserves. House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“While we expected the state’s financial picture to worsen, I am relieved that the size of the projected deficit was not larger,” said Speaker Hortman. “Thanks to prudent financial management of the state’s resources by the executive and legislative branches over the past decade, Minnesota has enough resources in the budget reserve and the cash flow accounts to weather the downturn. I’m pleased Minnesota has received $1.87 billion in federal aid, which allows us to take measures to provide economic security to Minnesotans to help them get through the COVID-19 downturn. Investments are needed to make Minnesotans secure in their housing, help small businesses, facilitate distance learning and telemedicine, and to ensure we have the workforce we need to provide care for the elderly and people with disabilities. The federal assistance allows us to make these needed investments, while our state’s savings will cover our expected dip in revenue.”

“Minnesota has the resources we need to address this crisis; we just need the will to act,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “We must stay the course to reduce the impact of COVID-19, save lives, and help Minnesotans get through the storm. Minnesotans need investments in the things that will help them make it through this crisis and thrive after it, including quality health care, economic security, a good education, and safe and healthy communities.”