Category: SD50

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 28, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

It’s hard to believe our snowy February is almost over. If you’re concerned about ice dams, the Minnesota Department of Commerce offers tips for how to deal with them now and how to prevent them in the future, which can also save you money on your heating bills. You can find this information about steps to take related to air sealing and ventilation here.

Here’s an update from St. Paul:

Governor Walz Releases State Budget Plan

Governor Walz last week released his proposal for a new two-year state budget, which he calls a “Budget for One Minnesota.” It prioritizes stronger schools, more affordable and comprehensive health care, and economic prosperity for communities across the state. You can read more about the state budget plan here. Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 28, 2018”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 21, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

It’s official, this is the snowiest February on record in Minnesota. Take a break from shoveling and read up on the legislative news from this week!

Governor’s Budget

This week Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan introduced their ‘One Minnesota’ budget proposal for the next two years. In many ways, the introduction of the Governor’s budget is the “first volley” in the collaborative effort between the Minnesota Legislature and Governor to pass our two-year budget. I am encouraged by the Governor’s focus and priorities, which invest in education from pre-K to college, expand access to affordable health care, and create tools to help local communities thrive. You can read more about Governor Walz’s  budget here.

What are your thoughts? The House has already begun in earnest working on our budget and I would love to hear from you about your budget priorities.  Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 21, 2019”

ep. Michael Howard Introduces Homework Starts with Home Legislation

State Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield) introduced “Homework Starts with Home” legislation today, seeking $8 million to provide innovative solutions to help combat home instability for Minnesota students and families.

“Every student in Minnesota deserves a safe and stable place to call their home, but the reality is far too many of our students lack this basic necessity,” said Howard. “Homework Starts with Home is an innovative, community-centered initiative that acknowledges the important intersection between housing stability and student achievement. Success in the classroom for our students begins with stability for our students at home.”

Last year more than 9,500 students enrolled in Minnesota public schools across the state experienced homelessness. This is a challenge faced by communities across the state, impacting more than 1,000 schools in 77 Minnesota counties. Home instability leads to challenges for students in the classroom. Only one in four third graders facing homelessness reads at their grade level. They are 37 percent less likely to be proficient compared with their low-income but housed counterparts, and more likely to be absent from school. Continue reading “ep. Michael Howard Introduces Homework Starts with Home Legislation”

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 18, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you had a great weekend! We’ve seen a lot of legislative activity and advocacy groups visiting at the Capitol. Here’s an update from St. Paul:

Last week began with a rare joint press conference hosted by Governor Tim Walz, Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka. The elected leaders announced three additional deadlines intended to prevent closed-door, behind-the-scenes budget negotiations that are not accessible to members of the public, as had become the norm from previous control of the House.

Watch the full press conference here and read MPR’s coverage of it here. Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 18, 2019”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 15, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

We’re over a month into the 2019 legislative session, and things are picking up. Here’s an update of what we’ve been working on this week.

Nurses Day at the Capitol

It was the Minnesota Nurses Association “Day on the Hill” this week, with nurses from all over Minnesota coming to the State Capitol to join in the fight for a more inclusive health care system. They believe that all Minnesotans should have access to quality, affordable health care, and I’m right there with them. A special thanks to the nurses from Richfield and Bloomington who stopped by to speak with me about making sure Minnesotans receive the care they need and deserve.

Teachers of Color Bill

In Minnesota, only 4.3 percent of teachers are people of color, a percentage that pales in comparison to the 33 percent of students who are people of color. We need to do better to ensure that the diversity of our state is reflected in the workforce that is educating the next generation of Minnesotans, which is why I’m supporting the Increase Teachers of Color Act. This legislation would provide loan forgiveness and scholarships to incentivize students of color to become teachers. It would also set the goal of increasing the number of teachers of color by 2 percent every year. The achievement gap in Minnesota is one of the biggest hurdles we face, but this bill would put us on the right path towards closing that gap. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 15, 2019”

Sen. Melissa Wiklund (SD50) Update: February 14, 2019

First Bills Introduced

We are now more than a month into the 2019 legislative session, and I’m excited to continue working

 

on issues that are important to Minnesotans. In addition to my work in committee, I’ve introduced several bills that cover a wide range of issues.

Some of my bills relate directly to our communities of Richfield and Bloomington. S.F. 108 is a grant for The Works museum in Bloomington, which provides opportunities for children and families to enjoy learning experiences related to science, technology, math, and engineering. S.F. 473 and S.F. 551 relate to tax measures that are important to the City of Bloomington. I also plan to introduce a bill that would fund a bonding request for the 77th St Underpass in Richfield. Since my time on the Bloomington School Board, early childhood education has been a focus of mine. S.F. 820, the Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act, addresses a wide range of early childhood investments. These include early learning scholarships, increasing the Child Care Assistance Program reimbursement rate, additional funding for voluntary pre-K, and childcare provider grants. This is the Senate companion bill to H.F. 1, one of the House majority’s top priorities. Continue reading “Sen. Melissa Wiklund (SD50) Update: February 14, 2019”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 7, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

What happened to our 40 degree weekend? Things are slow-moving on the roads, but not so much in the Minnesota House. There are several pieces of legislation and updates from this week that I’d like to share with you.

First bill passed – and it’s a good one 

Minnesota cannot build a more equitable future for all unless we learn lessons from our history and be purposeful in eliminating systemic racism. That is the purpose behind HF 51, the first bill we passed off the House floor this week.

HF 51 seeks to address the racial disparities that have long existed in the housing history of our state. If signed into law, it would allow homeowners to formally denounce restrictive covenants on their home titles. Restrictive covenants were used in the past to prevent minority communities from moving into residential neighborhoods. They are now unconstitutional, but the racist language remains in the abstract of many titles. The bill would allow homeowners to attach a formal document to their home title repudiating this racist language and practice. I’m happy to say that the bill passed the House unanimously. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 7, 2019”

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 5, 2019

 

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you were able to enjoy some time outside of the house over the weekend! As we prepare for another cold snap with the icy roads, please stay safe and allow for plenty of travel time on your commute. Unfortunately, many Minnesotans had frozen pipes that burst and caused significant water damage to their homes.

Water damage is one of the most common reasons people file claims on their homeowners insurance, and it is often the first time that people use their coverage.

The Minnesota Commerce Department, which regulates the state’s insurance industry, offers these tips to help with the insurance claims process: Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 5, 2019”

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: January 31, 2019

 

Rep. Andrew Carlson (50B) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’re having a great week and are looking forward to our warm-up over the weekend!

The House stayed open during our cold snap and committees kept busy, especially in the Labor Division and Health and Human Services Policy. Read about their work below and the significant legislative proposals moving forward.

Supporting Minnesota Families

All Minnesotans deserve the opportunity to be successful, but too many have to choose between work and taking care of a new baby or loved one. This is why on Wednesday, the first hearings were held for the Paid Family & Medical Leave Bill. This bill would allow eligible workers to have up to 12 weeks of paid leave from work in order to provide support to their family. The program itself would be modeled after the existing unemployment program. Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: January 31, 2019”

Rep. Mike Howard (HD50A) Update: January 31, 2019

Friends and Neighbors,

Temperatures may be freezing, but the pace of our work at the Minnesota Legislature is starting to heat up. I want to invite you to a SD 50 Listening Session on February 2nd from 10:00am to 11:30am at Northwestern University in Bloomington to share your input and ideas about the issues that are most important to you. If you are able to attend, please come for a relaxed and productive discussion. And the forecast calls for temperatures of 40 degrees (above zero)!

Continue reading “Rep. Mike Howard (HD50A) Update: January 31, 2019”