Category: State Issues

House Education Finance Division hears Increase Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers Act of 2021

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA— Today, the House Education Finance Division heard the Increase Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers Act of 2021, authored by Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL-Minneapolis). The bill aims to attract and retain more Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers, with the goal of providing all students with equitable access to effective and diverse teachers who reflect the diversity of their students.

“We owe it to our students to give them the best education possible, and the most important factor in a quality education is our educators,” said Rep. Hassan, co-chair of the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus.

“It has been shown repeatedly that all of our students benefit when they have teachers of color and American Indian teachers, but this is especially true for our students of color and indigenous students. HF 217 will ensure that our school education system has adequate resources to hire and retain teachers of color and American Indian teachers, while also creating a space for anti-racist and culturally relevant learning to take place. The integration of these diverse perspectives and experiences will lead to improved outcomes for every student.”

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35,000 COVID-19 doses for seniors to be given at 100 Minnesota sites

Vaccines shifting toward clinics, pharmacies. 

State officials have earmarked 35,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses for senior citizens this week — the highest total so far — at more than 100 locations, including hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

The move represents a shift away from reliance on nine state-sponsored community vaccination sites that opened two weeks ago toward established local providers, long the backbone for delivering influenza and other vaccinations.

“The goal here is to improve access closer to home with more COVID-19 vaccines being available,” said Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. Continue reading.

House Early Childhood Committee discusses economics of early care and learning and need for greater investment

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee heard and discussed a presentation on the economics of child care and early learning, including the need for public investment in this essential resource for the youngest Minnesotans and their families and communities. 

“High-quality early care and learning is foundational to our economy and to our society,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), chair of the committee. “It allows parents to work, businesses to grow, and children to get the great start they need for success in school and life. Like other public infrastructure, including education and transportation, this critical sector needs public support.”  

Legislators at the hearing heard testimony on how the economics of early care and learning place an enormous squeeze on families and providers alike. An average family in Minnesota with one infant pays nearly 20 percent of its income for child care, with many families paying a much higher percentage.  

Meanwhile, child care is the lowest-paid occupation of any requiring a high school diploma; a third of workers in the profession are on public assistance. And their employers are doing no better; margins are razor-thin, with many subsidized by churches, nonprofits, and even individual donations. Low compensation and high turnover undermine the consistent relationships and enriching experiences that young children need.  

Presenters at the hearing included Christa Anders, Coordinator, Transforming Minnesota’s Early Childhood Workforce; Jamie Bonczyk, former Executive Director at the recently-closed Hopkins Early Learning Center; and Oriane Casale, Interim Labor Market Information Director, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. 

Video of the hearing is available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel. More information, including documents from the hearing, is available on the committee’s webpage.  

State prescription drug purchasing program wins narrow approval in health committee


By changing how prescription drugs are purchased for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees, the Department of Human Services could save money and provide more transparency to the process, Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) told the House Health Finance and Policy Committee Monday.

She sponsors HF8, which would move all drug purchasing for public health care programs to the department.

The department currently handles drug purchasing for fee-for-service patients, who make up about 25% of enrollees. The other 75% are in programs whose drug purchasing is handled by managed care organizations and pharmacy benefits managers, she said. Continue reading.

DFL Party Ramps Up Year-Round Organizing Capacity

Hirings reflect DFL’s commitment to organizing & infrastructure building

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota DFL Party announced the hiring of four additional staffers to bolster the Party’s year-round organizing program and strengthen local infrastructure across Minnesota:

“I learned an incredibly important lesson from Senator Paul Wellstone’s campaigns: organizing wins elections,”said DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin. “This year, the DFL Party is investing heavily in grassroots organizing and building the infrastructure needed to ensure Minnesota stays blue in 2022. As a result of our commitment to grassroots organizing, the DFL Party has not lost a statewide election in the ten years I’ve served as Party Chairman, and these new hires will ensure we retain our edge going into next year’s crucial elections.”

The four new staffers joining the Minnesota DFL Party are:

  • Jess Bigirindavyi – Coalitions Director
  • Britta Moen – Rural Organizing Director
  • Bahea Manasra – Deputy Party Affairs & Training Director
  • Karen Velez-Barron – Office Manager
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Minnesota cuts vaccine sites, adds doses for seniors

More doses to be diverted to those 65 and older via medical providers. 

Mass state COVID-19 vaccination sites will be reduced in Minnesota this week as more vaccine is steered to local medical providers who can reach out to more of their patients.

Gov. Tim Walz on Monday said 35,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be earmarked for senior citizens in Minnesota this week — the highest total so far — at more than 100 locations. That will include two permanent mass vaccination sites in Minneapolis and Duluth rather than the nine pilot sites spread across the state in each of the last two weeks.

The governor’s announcement called the strategy an “all-of-the-above approach” that gives vulnerable senior citizens access to vaccine through their local doctors but maintains some broader community events as well. Continue reading.

DFL lawmakers introduce adult-use cannabis legislation

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and DFL lawmakers introduced adult-use cannabis legislation that will address criminal justice inequities created by our current system and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious issues.

The adult-use cannabis bill is based on conversations with Minnesotans during the statewide “Be Heard on Cannabis” tour, which hosted town hall meetings in 15 communities spanning urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state; met with more than 30 organizations and associations; consulted with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and 13 state agencies; held 250 meetings with individuals and groups; and inspired legislators to work hundreds of hours to produce the bill. 

“The failed criminalization of cannabis has resulted in a legacy of racial injustice that can no longer go unaddressed,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, the bill’s chief author. “Adults deserve the freedom to decide whether to use cannabis, and our state government should play an important role in addressing legitimate concerns around youth access, public health, and road safety. Veterans and Minnesotans with serious illnesses like PTSD deserve better access to our medical program, which is not working well for most people. It’s time to legalize, expunge, and regulate.”

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DFL Party Statement on Black History Month

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement commemorating the beginning of Black History Month:

“This month, we commemorate and pay tribute to the incredible contributions that Black Americans have made to the rich tapestry of American life and the history of our nation. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nellie Stone Johnson, Roy Wilkins, Dr. Josie Johnson, Congressman John Lewis, and so many others worked, struggled, and sacrificed so much to lift up communities of color and help our nation live up to our ideals.

“If we are to follow in these leaders’ footsteps and carry on their work to build a truly just society, we must be honest about our successes and our shortcomings when it comes to racial equity. In January, I was both proud and moved to see Minnesota swear in our most diverse state legislature in state history, driven almost exclusively by DFLers. Our commitment to equity and fairness does not stop at building a more representative legislature, though. Ongoing racial disparities throughout our nation and significantly in Minnesota, from housing to education to the impact of COVID-19 and beyond, continue to erect barriers to achieving the American Dream for far too many Black and Brown Americans and that is unacceptable. As we celebrate Black History Month let’s honor the work of so many who came before us by rededicating ourselves to the fight for equity, fairness, and justice for all.”

House State Government Finance and Elections Committee hears from Minnesotans about the need to defend and strengthen our democracy

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee held the first hearing on legislation to defend and strengthen our democracy.

“Today, Minnesotans shared what building a strong, inclusive democracy means to them and their communities,” said Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL – Minneapolis), the author of the bill. “3.3 million voters sent me and my colleagues to the Minnesota Legislature to do the work of defending and strengthening our democracy. I am grateful to stand with all Minnesotans to do the work to build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.” 

“Minnesotans hold free and fair elections in extremely high regard, as shown by our consistent leadership in statewide voter turnout,” said Rep. Michael Nelson, chair of the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee. “Rep. Greenman’s legislation, the Democracy for the People Act, steps up during a critical time for our democracy and says that no matter your party, region, race, or age – our democracy needs to work for all Minnesotans.”

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