Category: SD40

UPDATE: State Government Committee to hold public hearing this afternoon

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Co-Chair Michael Nelson (DFL – Brooklyn Park) will hold a joint House/Senate State Government Conference Committee this afternoon at 4:00 PM to go over sections of the budget on which the House and Senate agree.

WHAT: Meeting of the House/Senate Conference Committee on the State Government budget, HF 1935
WHO: Rep. Michael Nelson (DFL – Brooklyn Park), committee members
WHERE: Room G-23, Capitol
WHEN: 4:00 PM, Thursday, May 9

The House budget appropriates the full $6.6 million allocated by the Federal Government to improve Minnesota’s election security, accessibility, cybersecurity, and to modernize the statewide voter registration system. The Senate does not allocate any of the Federal money, leaving it on the table. Minnesota has four years to allocate and use the funds, a portion of which would be used on projects that could take four years to complete.

 

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 5, 2019

A legislative update is available in Hmong here. 

Neighbors,

Interrupting your Sunday morning with a quick update from the Capitol – we finally finished debating and voting on the major components of our budget this week. Here’s an overview.

Public Safety 
We passed a public safety budget to allow for gun safety, cash bail reform, cannabis reform, and pathways beyond incarceration. This is the first step toward a public safety approach centered in not just accountability and punishment, but prevention and pathways to rehabilitation.

There are gun safety bills included in this budget and I am glad to hear from people on both sides of the debate. As we move forward, I will keep all of your comments in mind. Gun-related issues are a highly contentious topic, and please be assured that I will treat each decision with scrutiny. No matter where we are on the debate, your opinion will be heard and honored. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 5, 2019”

Rep. Mike Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 30, 2019

A Capitol update is available in Hmong here.

Neighbors,

Since we returned from Easter/Passover break we’ve been working on major components of our state budget, carefully reviewing each provision to improve access to affordable health care, great schools, and safe roads. Here’s an overview.

Health Care 
We approved the Health and Human Services budget late Thursday night. Health care costs and accessibility is something that has been on the top of the minds of many people in our community. This budget strengthens health care for all Minnesotans by lowering the cost of care, making drug prices more affordable by holding Big Pharma accountable and addressing health disparities.

The House DFL’s HHS budget increases funding for Minnesota’s only program that serves low-income families with children and pregnant women (Minnesota Family Investment Program) for the first time in 33 years. It invests in cultural competency for mental health services, increases funding for child protection in our tribal communities, and includes grants to improve child development outcomes for people of color.

Education 
Our E-12 budget invests in every student in every public school across the state. We know that our kids start learning long before kindergarten — and that Minnesota suffers from one of the largest achievement gaps in the country. We’re investing in our youngest learners to make sure every child gets off to a great start.

Jobs & Energy
Last week, the House passed the Jobs and Energy budget (HF 2208). It includes access to paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time for all Minnesotans, tougher protections for the 39,000 Minnesotans who report wage theft every year, and a pathway to adopt 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2050.

Taxes
Minnesotans deserve a tax system that’s fair and provides the resources our state needs to succeed. The House DFL tax bill gets us there by leveling the playing field for working families, farmers, senior citizens, and small businesses. It holds corporations accountable for using tax loopholes and offshore tax havens to get out of paying their share while they take home record profits. WCCO has coverage of House Democrats’ tax bill here.

Transportation
Last night we approved a transportation budget that makes responsible investments to fix our state’s roads, bridges, and transit. The American Society of Civil Engineers rated Minnesota’s roads as “D+” on their most recent infrastructure report card. Bridges received a “C” and transit was awarded a “C-.”

The House DFL Majority’s transportation budget prioritizes better access to transit for Minnesotans who need to get to work, school, and to just live their lives.

Today we’ll be going over the budget bill I put together as chair of the State Government Committee, and you can follow along by watching here.

Please reach out if there’s anything I can do for you. Have a great week.

Sincerely,
Rep. Michael V. Nelson

Minnesota House Approves Measure to Uphold Voting Rights Act

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House approved Rep. Samantha Vang’s provision in the State Government budget bill, which would lift a ban on assisting voters at polling places. Under current state law, no one can help more than three people fill out their ballots. The restriction has a disproportionate impact on communities with disabilities and English proficiency challenges.

“Language barriers don’t stop at the ballot box. If we are going to have a truly representative democracy, we need to make sure all eligible voters can cast their ballots,” said Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL- Brooklyn Center). “Under current law, I can’t bring my own parents and grandparents to vote.”

Current state law may be in violation of the Voting Rights Act, which was established to ensure historically marginalized communities don’t have legal barriers at the local level to vote. This provision will ensure that a disability or language barrier doesn’t prevent eligible voters from being counted.

Aside from Minnesota, only Arkansas and Georgia limit the number of voters each person can help.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 29, 2019

Neighbors,

I hope you had a great weekend! For the last month of session we’ll be vetting and voting on budget bills. Last week we covered education, jobs, energy and health and human services.

Education
All Minnesotans deserve a great education, no matter who they are or where they live in our state. Our education budget is making historic investments in every student in every public school, including investments in early childhood education. We’re allowing all of our state’s youngest learners to get off to a great start.

Here are some highlights from the budget: Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 29, 2019”

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 17, 2019

A Capitol update is available in Hmong here, Somali here, and Spanish here.

Neighbors,

This week we are on a legislative break, a time for House and Senate members to spend time in our districts with constituents as we observe Easter/Passover. Here’s an update on the progress we’ve made in the legislative session so far.

Committees have been meeting to put together our budgets. As chair of the State Government committee, I put together a budget that will make our elections more secure and accessible, and ensure a complete and accurate census count. Minnesota consistently leads the nation in voter participation and we stand on a long history of ensuring every Minnesotan is included and counted. Our proposal reflects a continued commitment to uphold those values.

Our Republican-led Senate, however, has other plans. I have continued discussing with them the need to allocate the full amount of money the Federal government gave us to secure our elections. They agreed in the beginning of session that this was important, and are now using it as a bargaining chip.

Investing in Education
The House education plan, released last week, would increase revenue from corporations to lower taxes for families and individuals while also increasing investments in education. Three quarters of the new revenue will go toward E-12 education, with the remaining fourth going toward freezing tuition for Minnesota students for two years.

Minnesotans have been telling the Legislature for years that the state’s commitment to our schools has not kept pace with inflation, leading to layoffs and local referendums for property taxpayers to fund just the basics. By targeting corporate tax havens and making sure big corporations pay their fair share, the investments in our schools that Minnesotans want are possible.

Distracted Driving 
Distracted driving is on the rise – it’s a factor in one in four crashes and contributes to 59 deaths and 223 serious injuries annually in Minnesota. Democrats and Republicans worked together last week to pass a bill to increase drivers’ safety. There are a lot of distractions out on the roads, and our cell phones are a constant cause of accidents and distraction.

I proudly voted for this bill that will make our roads safer by requiring Minnesotans to put down their phones and focus on the road – and on Friday the Governor signed the hands-free bill into law.

Legislative Updates Now Available in Non-English Languages
  
The House DFL is committed to improving everyone’s accessibility to the Legislature, no matter where you live, or what language you speak. That’s why legislative updates are now available for non-English speakers.
Click here to sign up for Somali language e-updates.
Click here to sign up for Hmong language e-updates.
Click here to sign up for Spanish language e-updates.

As always, please reach out if there’s anything I can do for you. Have a great week!

Sincerely,
Rep. Michael V. Nelson

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 14, 2019

A Capitol update is available in Hmong here, Somali here, and Spanish here. 

Neighbors,

House and Senate finance committees have been meeting for the last couple of weeks, combining legislation into larger budgets, or omnibus bills, to be passed on the House floor. Next week we will adjourn for an Easter/Passover break, before the legislation we’ve completed will be debated and voted on in the coming weeks on the House floor. Once approved by the House, conference committees will be formed with House and Senate members to negotiate these omnibus bills, before being sent to the Governor for his signature. This process will take up the remainder of session.

Higher Education Budget 

State Government Finance Committee Releases Proposed Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA  – State Government Finance Committee Chair Michael Nelson (DFL – Brooklyn Park) today announced a proposed budget (H.F. 1935) for the State Government Committee and the Elections Finance Committee. The bill includes measures to make Minnesota’s elections more secure and accessible, and ensure a complete and accurate U.S. Census count.

“Civic engagement is not a spectator sport in Minnesota,” said Rep. Nelson. “We consistently lead the nation in voter participation and stand on a strong history of ensuring every Minnesotan is included and counted in our society. Our proposal reflects a continued commitment to upholding those fundamental values.”

The budget also includes provisions to: Continue reading “State Government Finance Committee Releases Proposed Budget”

Rep. Mike Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 5, 2019

Neighbors,

On Wednesday, Governor Tim Walz delivered his first State of the State address. He laid out his vision for our state by using real stories about the struggles and strengths of Minnesotans. He emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation between the two parties, and the House and the Senate, to focus on serving Minnesotans.

Help America Vote Act Update 
I hope that bipartisan spirit carries over to the Help America Vote Act negotiations. Secretary of State Steve Simon and I have continued to fight for full funding in order to secure our elections, though Republicans have been hesitant to agree, or even show up to our negotiations. This is an issue that has historically had broad bipartisan support, clearly demonstrated by the fact that every single other state has begun using money allocated from the Federal Government.

You can learn more from a recent KARE11 segment here.

Minnesota Values Budget

Budgets are more than just spreadsheets and numbers — they’re a reflection of our values and morals. The Minnesota Values Budget invests in a state that works better all of us. It is based on the fact that Minnesotans care about their neighbors and want to see them succeed just as much as they do their own families.

Learn more by reading MPR’s coverage here.

Continue reading “Rep. Mike Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 5, 2019”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 31, 2019

Neighbors,

For many years, Liberian families have been eligible to seek refuge in the United States.

The Liberians in our district are an undeniable asset to our community. Forcing them to leave would leave a gaping hole in our health and social services, in our businesses, and in the fabric of our community. Pulling these families away from work, school, and their homes would devastate those who call Minnesota home.

They cannot and should not be deported. Although the President has decided to extend the DED program for another year, I will continue to urge the federal government to find permanent residency for our Minnesotans. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 31, 2019”