SD36 3 , CD3 DFL

Speaker Hortman, Majority Leader Winkler issue statements about Census results, impact on redistricting

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today the U.S. Census Bureau released new data to determine each state’s number of congressional seats and Electoral College votes for the next decade. Minnesota’s number of congressional seats remains unchanged at eight. Data released today is not used to determine new boundaries for new legislative districts.

“Minnesota has a long history of good government and strong civic engagement. Thanks to Minnesotans’ excellent response to the census, Minnesota has retained eight Congressional districts. This is an important achievement for all of us. Congressional district allocation from the Census Bureau is an early and important step in Minnesota’s redistricting process. Minnesotans deserve an open and transparent redistricting process that results in a fair map,” said Speaker Hortman. “House Redistricting Chair Mary Murphy is well-qualified to take on this important work. She has the trust of Minnesotans in both parties and has an unassailable reputation for fairness. Now we anxiously await additional population data from the Census Bureau that is essential for the House Redistricting Committee to draw new districts.”

“Minnesotans expect their Legislature to draw fair maps and involve the public in drawing those maps,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “The census data released today makes clear how important that work is, and we are committed to district maps that all Minnesotans can trust and have confidence in.”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 23, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Floor session is in full force and more omnibus bills have made it past the floor and are heading to conference committee. Conference committee is where members of the house and senate on related committees come together to negotiate the final version of each omnibus bill and eventually send back to the respected floors for final vote to be sent to the Governor.

While session is swiftly approaching its end there is still an incredible amount of work to be done. I am grateful to be here working for all of you to make sure we create a better Minnesota and ensure our local communities are taken care of.

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: April 23, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

We’ve spent the past week in the House vetting components of our complete state budget proposal on the House floor, with the next step being negotiations with the Senate. So far, we’ve passed budgets for the following areas:

Senate Passes Transportation Omnibus Bill with funding for North Metro Projects

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed the HF 1684, the transportation omnibus budget bill, by a vote of 40 to 26. The bill contains nearly $7 billion in funding for a range of transportation projects, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Safety.

“The transportation bill passed today includes much needed funding for transportation projects throughout the north metro, including $12 million in funding for Highway 10, for Highway 65, and for the Ramsey Gateway Project,” said Senator John Hoffman. “These necessary upgrades will improve traffic flow, safety, and will create hundreds of jobs for our community. I’m proud to vote yes for this bipartisan package.”

Approximately $42.5 million in funding is included for these projects. This includes $7 million in grants to the city of Blaine for a local road intersection at 99th Avenue Northeast and marked Trunk Highway 65 and associated local road improvements.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 21, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On Tuesday April 20, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on the charges second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. This verdict does not come lightly, as the eyes of the world have been upon Minnesota and will continue to be.

Nothing can bring George Floyd back, but today was an important structural piece towards accountability. It is also abundantly clear that one conviction will not address the feelings of so many Minnesotans, who feel and have witnessed that the system is not working equally for everyone. We also know that over 50 percent of all use of force incidents involve a person with a disability.

Each of us have a role to play in pursuit of a more just world, and this is especially true for us at the Minnesota Legislature. We must work together to deliver the changes necessary to make sure every Minnesotan feels safe in their community. With just one month left in this legislative session, we must build on our work from last summer. We must also remember that George Floyd was someone who struggled with recovery yet found time to volunteer to be a mentor to homeless youth even taking them to see the Twins play baseball.

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Udate: April 17, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

My thoughts and condolences are with our Brooklyn Center neighbors, Katie and Aubrey Wright, who are mourning the loss of their child, Daunte Wright. His tragic death underscores the need to renew our efforts as lawmakers, community leaders, parents, and neighbors, to improve public safety for all.

As you may recall, the Legislature passed several bipartisan public safety reform measures last summer, with law enforcement stakeholders at the table. Some of the measures we passed with the Republican-led Minnesota Senate include a tougher standard for when police can use deadly force, a ban on “warrior training” and choke holds, a duty to intercede, and expanded Autism training. I’m committed to continuing this work in partnership with our Coon Rapids and Champlin residents and our local PDs and State Patrol. Balancing the state budget and ensuring safe communities for all are my top priorities in these final weeks of the session.

Sen John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 17, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We have had tragedy strike Minnesota once more. Many words have been already been said and actions by many of our community members have been heartening as people have come together to support each other through everything that has happened.

The trial over George Floyd’s death will be coming to a close shortly as well. I know we all hope for justice and a peaceful resolution. With everything Minnesota has been through I hope we can come together to support each other, see justice done for the victims and a brighter future for us and our children. As I stated in my last Enews, while the state legislature made some movement last summer with the Police Accountability Act of 2020, that was only the beginning. It was the bare minimum of what everyone could agree to at the time and there is still so much work left to be done around public safety reform. We must work together to make critical, effective, and long-term structural changes so that every Minnesotan feels safe in their community and across the state—regardless of what they look like.”

Minnesota House approves State Government, Elections, Veterans Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – This evening, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed their proposal for the State Government budget bill, including provisions from the State Government Finance and Elections Committee as well as the Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. The legislation funds the state’s constitutional offices, internal service agencies, and various boards, councils, and commissions. In addition to funding the state government, the bill also contains policies and funding to protect and strengthen Minnesota’s elections. The bill passed on a vote of 68-62.

“As our state addresses and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the investments in this bill facilitate the responsive state government Minnesotans deserve,” said Michael Nelson (DFL – Brooklyn Park), Chair of the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee. “Minnesotans hold elections in high regard, as seen by our consistent leadership in voter turnout. Following a safe, transparent, and secure election in 2020, our proposal strives to engage even more Minnesotans in the right to have their voices heard when exercising their civic duty.”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 12, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Once again, our community is in a state of shock at the death of an unarmed black man in an encounter with law enforcement. Daunte Wright should be alive today, but instead his life was cut tragically short in a matter of seconds. My condolences and heart goes out to his family, his friends, and our entire community as we grieve over his death.

It has not even been a full year since the murder of George Floyd, and with the eyes of the world on Minnesota, another black man has been killed by a system that is not working. It is up to each of us to play a role in taking the steps necessary to achieve true accountability and reform, and to ensure that justice comes.

House DFLers Highlight Public Safety Budget with Funding, Reform and Justice for Minnesotans

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday, House DFL lawmakers discussed their 2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform budget bill. The legislation invests in law enforcement, improves police accountability, and listens to the victims of sex crimes.

“Every person deserves to live with human dignity in their community. To deliver on this promise, we have the responsibility to ensure our systems treat all Minnesotans with fairness and respect, while delivering justice,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee. “In the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial, with the eyes of the world once again upon our state, it’s incumbent upon all of us to listen to Minnesotans and deliver the change they’re seeking so they can experience true public safety, no matter where they live or what they look like. Our work is inspired by the diverse citizens who are stepping up to be part of making communities safe, from multi-racial neighborhood based intervention work to advocates for juveniles and vulnerable adults. We have the ability to deliver critical funding while enacting reforms Minnesotans are counting on, and this bill does exactly that.”

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