Category: SD36

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 2, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and yours are safe and well during this time. It was a busy week and there have been changes as we move for safety and our economy.

Chief among them is that the Governor has extended his stay at home order an additional two weeks. However, he has also opened up roughly 100,000 jobs to be operated safely. At this moment 80% of businesses are considered necessary and we are all working to get the other businesses up and operating where we can, where the science says it is safe as policies are developed.

We are in this for the long haul but we make progress, in both safety and economically. While we continue working on this, let me know what you think is most important as we continue these discussions and act together for Minnesota’s safety on all fronts. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 2, 2020”

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36B) Update: May 1, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

This week, Governor Walz announced an extension of the Stay at Home Order, asking Minnesotans to limit their movements outside of their home, until May 18. As a part of this executive action, small retailers will be able to conduct business safely via curbside pickup starting Monday.

Additionally, the governor has recommended that Minnesotans should wear a mask whenever leaving the house. You might have heard that several businesses are starting to implement a mask policy for customers, including Costco.

Extended Order Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36B) Update: May 1, 2020”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 1, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. I know that this is a difficult time and we are all having to make significant sacrifices. Please know that your sacrifices are making a difference. You are saving lives and protecting our health care workers. We will come out the other side of this — please continue social distancing and wear a mask when in public. Thank you for all you are doing to help Minnesota get through this crisis.

Here’s a quick update on Minnesota’s response to COVID-19.

House and Senate DFL outline economic security agenda

house dfl economic security agenda

This week, House and Senate DFL leaders and legislators outlined their economic security agenda to assist Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 1, 2020”

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on local jobs and projects bill

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“It’s disappointing to see the minority leader threaten to block much-needed investments in local jobs and projects in our communities,” said Speaker Hortman. “Governor Walz and his Administration have served the people of Minnesota well during this crisis, and his thoughtfulness is why Minnesotans overwhelmingly approve of his actions. Ending the peacetime emergency declaration before the emergency has passed would be reckless.”

“Minnesota needs to build its way out of the COVID-19 crisis, not play games with Governor Walz’s needed emergency powers,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesotans in every part of the state need a strong local projects and jobs bill, and DFLers in the House are committed to delivering it with no strings attached. Workers need jobs that are safe, and we intend to create as many of them as we can.”

 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on COVID-19 vigil

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on last night’s vigil for workers who have become infected with COVID-19 while on the job. 

“Our first responders, health care, and essential workers are putting themselves on the front line of the battle against this pandemic every day,” said Speaker Hortman. “We owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude. The Minnesota House of Representatives will continue to do all we can to support these heroes.”

“All Minnesotans deserve the opportunity to be healthy and safe. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, our first responders, nurses, and health care workers are the people making that happen,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “They are serving Minnesotans well at great personal risk to themselves and their families. They have our deepest appreciation, and we will continue working to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely.”

 

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: April 27, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you and your family staying well.

House committees continue to hold remote public hearings to discuss additional measures that provide flexibility to Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, one of those measures was my bill that would deliver additional assistance to our small businesses.

Multiple news reports have shown that the economic relief measures passed by the federal government have largely gone to big business and the well-connected, leaving small businesses hung out to dry. That is why I am authoring legislation that would provide small businesses with much needed support. My bill reserves money for the smallest of the small: businesses with 6 employees or less. I am pleased to tell you that it passed out of the House Jobs Committee on Friday. You can watch my opening remarks here. Whether a business survives the pandemic should not depend on whether they have a high-powered lobbyist or a huge legal department.

Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: April 27, 2020”

Rep. Melissa Hortman Update: April 24, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

This week, we saw some strong steps taken in Minnesota’s response to COVID-19. We are continuing to lead the nation in addressing this crisis due to the hard work and sacrifice of so many Minnesotans. Thank you for all you are doing to maintain social distancing and keep people safe.

Here’s a quick update.

COVID-19 Testing Breakthrough

On Wednesday, Governor Walz was joined by the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare, and other public health experts to announce a statewide testing strategy to test all symptomatic people, isolate confirmed cases, and expand public health surveillance tools.

Funded in part by $36 million from the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund that the Legislature passed in late March, the partnership will establish the capacity to deliver 20,000 molecular and 15,000 serology tests per day. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman Update: April 24, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 24, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone, their families and friends are safe and healthy. The days draw on as we carefully watch the pandemic that is COVID-19. In this newsletter there are more details, but you’ll see that we are starting to open more businesses and getting people to work in safe, thoughtful ways. That is the key in all of this: Safe, thoughtful progress.

While we still have a potentially lengthy time of caution ahead of us remember to stay in touch with those most important to you through all safe measures. It is more about physical distancing than social distancing and in times like these it is even more important to be socially close. We are all in this together. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 24, 2020”

Rep. Zack Stephenson Update: April 23, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

This week, Governor Walz announced that Minnesota has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19. Thanks to a partnership with Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and other health care providers, our state will have the capacity to test as many as 20,000 people per day. That means every Minnesotan with COVID-19 symptoms will be able to get tested.

testing breakthrough

Rapid, widespread testing will help us build a better picture of how COVID-19 is impacting our state. This is a vital step toward better controlling the virus and safely reopening our economy. Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson Update: April 23, 2020”

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on allowing certain

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA— Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on Governor Walz’s announcement that certain non-critical businesses can reopen:

“Minnesotans’ work ethic is unparalleled across the country — we are a hard-working and productive state. Minnesotans care about one another’s health and we share a commitment to taking action to lessen the risk posed by COVID-19,” said Speaker Hortman. “The steps Governor Walz outlined today for office, industrial, and manufacturing workplaces are a welcome signal that together we have made progress slowing the spread of this disease, and that we are learning the steps we must take to keep each other safe moving forward. I appreciate that Governor Walz and his team are continuing to follow the science and are putting Minnesotans’ health and safety first. Our foremost concern continues to be ensuring that we can protect our health care system from being overwhelmed, and that we can protect health care workers who are risking their lives to treat Minnesotans.”

“Minnesotans need as much economic security as we can provide during this public health crisis, and those least likely to have it are being hardest hit,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “House DFLers are working to ensure the health and economic well-being of Minnesotans now and into the future.”