Category: SD48

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 23, 2018

Week of March 19th – 23rd

A Weekend of Civic Action: Town Hall Forum & March for our Lives

This Saturday at 9:00am at Minnetonka High School (18301 Hwy 7) in the forum lecture hall, Representative Laurie Pryor and I will be holding a town hall forum. Please come ready with your comments, questions, or concerns!

We are aware that the March For Our Lives is at the same time. We’d love our constituents to be at both, but unfortunately we were unable to reschedule our town hall. Whichever event you decide to go to, I hope you enjoy your weekend exercising your civic duty. There will be another Town Hall on Saturday, May 12, so you will have another chance before session ends. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 23, 2018”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 23, 2018

 

Rep. Laurie Pryor (48A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

Though snow is in the forecast, spring is here in district 48A. At the Capitol, we’ve had some long hours hearing policy bills before the first deadline. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting with people from the community to hear their legislative priorities. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 23, 2018”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 16, 2018

Week of March 12th – 16th

Students and Legislators Continue to Take on Gun Violence

On Monday, a bipartisan bill was introduced that would require universal background checks for all gun sales. I was incredibly grateful to everyone who worked so hard on this compromise, and am hopeful that we are finally breaking through. I am proud to fully support this bipartisan legislation. For far too long, we have not enacted commonsense legislation, such as this, that has the power to save lives.

In Governor Dayton’s final State of the State address, he endorsed this bill and called on state legislators to listen to students who are asking for tighter restrictions on gun control. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 16, 2018”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 16, 2018

Rep. Laurie Pryor (48A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

Spring is right around the corner and with that, the pace of business is picking up at the State Capitol. We had another busy week, and here’s my Legislative Update.

Veterans Day on the Hill

Many Minnesotans came to the Capitol on Monday for Veterans Day on the Hill. This year’s focus was on helping surviving spouses keep their homes, stopping predatory lending against veterans’ benefits, and increasing access to the outdoors for disabled vets. It was great to see so many veterans and advocates working to make sure their voices are heard. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 16, 2018”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 9, 2018

Week of March 5th – 9th

Keeping up the Momentum on School Safety

On Wednesday, students from Central High School in St Paul led a walk-out to protest gun violence. Their march ended at the state capitol, where they were joined by other students. I got the chance to talk with several of the participants. One of them turned out to be a constituent!

It was an incredible thing to experience. The passion and confidence were some of the strongest I have seen from any group here at the capitol, regardless of age. After hearing these young people speak, I have been filled with that same confidence. This fire will not burn out. They simply will not let that happen, and will not let us as legislators forget that. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 9, 2018”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 9, 2018

Rep. Laurie Pryor (48A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and the Capitol Rotunda was full of people pushing for measures to increase opportunities and level the playing field for women, including passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Earlier this week, WalletHub named Minnesota the best state in the nation for women, taking into account a variety of factors including unemployment rates, percentage of women-owned businesses, health and safety, and others. Additionally, Governor Dayton proclaimed March Women’s History Month in Minnesota. While Minnesota is a great state for women, we still have a great deal of work to remove barriers to success. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 9, 2018”

How many innocents must die?

I am proud of Stoneman Douglas High School students. For the first time since Columbine we see real movement on gun violence.

Of all murders in America 64 percent are with guns, in Canada 30 percent, in Australia 13 percent, and in England 4 percent. Students and adults are tired of boloney solutions. What are boloney fixes? Raising the age to buy a gun to 21 does nothing; outlawing “bump stocks” does not fix the problem; blaming mentally ill people, more boloney. There will always be undiagnosed mentally ill people, and other countries have them too. Arming teachers for more guns in schools, another bullsh*t fix. Continue reading “How many innocents must die?”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: March 2, 2018

Week of February 26 – March 2

February forecast provides for cautionary optimism

Minnesota Management and Budget released the state’s February budget forecast this week, the day after US News and World Report named us the second best state in the nation. The forecast projected a positive balance of $329 million for the current biennium. It’s smaller than we had hoped, but still a good sign.

Exercising caution will be important as we decide on our supplemental budget this year. There are many things that must be taken care of this session. Public employees still have not had their negotiated raises approved by the legislature, and we need to make our schools safer. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: March 2, 2018”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 2, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

Rep. Laurie Pryor (48A) – Legislative Update

 

It has been very busy at the State Capitol with full committee agendas and many visits with constituents. It’s great to hear the perspectives from so many people in the community. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 2, 2018”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: February 26, 2018

Rep. Laurie Pryor (48A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

The legislative session got underway last week. Along with legislators returning to the State Capitol, everyday Minnesotans also made their voices heard on issues they are passionate about.

One of these issues is the crisis of gun violence. As you know, in Florida, 14 students, a teacher, a coach, and an athletic director all lost their lives in yet another senseless tragedy. On the first day of session, hundreds of members of Moms Demand Action rallied at the Capitol imploring legislators to take action on gun violence prevention measures. Two days later, hundreds more with the organization Protect Minnesota came to the Capitol with the same message: too many lives have been lost; we need legislative action now to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: February 26, 2018”