3CD DFL

Ahead of Memorial Day, Rep. Phillips Introduces Legislation to Improve Veterans’ Access to Lifesaving Mental Health Care

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) announced the introduction of the Vet Center Support Act, a bill that would identify barriers to constructing new Vet Centers and increasing staff capacity to assess how well veterans’ mental health needs are being met in underserved areas. Minnesota only has three Vet Centers statewide – one Center for every 100,000 veterans – one of the worst ratios in the country.

Vet Centers are community-based health providers that offer mental health services and readjustment counseling to veterans, active duty, National Guard members, Reservists, and their families. Yet, despite their proven track record of suicide prevention and excellent care, as well as the growing demand for their services, the state of Minnesota has not gained a new Vet Center in over a decade. After hearing from veterans, service organizations, state officials, and the Congressman’s own Veterans Advisory Council, Rep. Phillips wrote the Vet Center Support Act to address shortages in veterans’ mental health care across the country.

Trump claims he has “absolute immunity” from Swalwell lawsuit

Former President Trump on Monday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots because he has “absolute immunity.”

Driving the news: In a memo, Trump’s attorney said the lawsuit “directly attacks” the First amendment, adding that the congressman took comments the former president made out of context and that the court should dismiss the lawsuit because “[t]he President’s absolute immunity forecloses the jurisdiction of this Court.”

What he’s saying: “In bringing this suit, the Congressman asks this Court to wade into turbulent political waters to decide what controversial speech should be favored. The Court should firmly reject that invitation,” Trump’s filing says. Continue reading.

Senate DFL Week in Review: May 28, 2021

Anniversary of George Floyd’s death
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Minnesota observes the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death

Tuesday, May 25, marked one year since George Floyd was murdered at the hands of Minneapolis police officer, Derrick Chauvin, in South Minneapolis. His death brought to the forefront the global consciousness of what Black communities have known about systemic racism and policing for years. Had Darnella Frasier not been there to bear witness to and record the event, it is likely Chauvin would have never faced accountability. Read more >>

Behind closed doors

Much of the work for the next two-year state budget was left unfinished at the close of the 2021 Legislative Session. With general budget spending targets not released until the last day of session, a special session will be needed to finish the work. In the meantime, working groups were assigned to negotiate which spending proposals in each budget conference committee would be included in the final bills. Working groups were expected to have these fiscal spreadsheets completed by May 28 and policy priorities agreed upon by June 4. As of Thursday, May 27, few details have emerged about the status of these negotiations. Read more >>

Prosecutor in Trump criminal probe convenes grand jury to hear evidence, weigh potential charges

NEW YORK — Manhattan’s district attorney has convened the grand jury that is expected to decide whether to indict former president Donald Trump, other executives at his company or the business itself, should prosecutors present the panel with criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the development.

The panel was convened recently and will sit three days a week for six months. It is likely to hear several matters — not just the Trump case — during its term, which is longer than a traditional New York state grand-jury assignment, these people said. Like others, they spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Generally, special grand juries such as this are convened to participate in long-term matters rather than to hear evidence of crimes charged routinely.

The move indicates that District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.’s investigation of the former president and his business has reached an advanced stage after more than two years. It suggests, too, that Vance thinks he has found evidence of a crime — if not by Trump, by someone potentially close to him or by his company. Continue reading.

With Capitol insurrection commission delayed in the Senate, Rep. Phillips calls for filibuster reform

WASHINGTON, DC — With the Senate vote on the bipartisan commission to investigate delayed, Rep. Phillips issues the following statement:

“I value tradition. Like most Americans, I yearn for the days when Senators debated rather than divided and broke bread rather than our collective trust in government. But here we are, just months removed from an insurrection, merging from a pandemic, witnessing graphic displays of corruption, and at risk of irretrievable erosion of faith in elections – the very foundation of our democratic republic. I believe a bipartisan January 6 Commission and HR1, the For The People Act, are too important to forgo without debate, deliberation and a floor vote in the Senate. So it’s time to call on tradition and return the filibuster to its roots; the talking filibuster. Senators who wish to prevent a bill from a facing a simple majority vote would have to be so committed to obstruction that they’re willing to speak on the floor for as many hours or days or even months as it takes to force the others to concede. I believe in tradition, and tradition dictates Senators should be debating and voting, or have to work a whole lot harder to do nothing at all.”

Trump blurts out bizarre attack on ‘Crazy Joe Scarborough and his blood-curdling psycho wife’ for no apparent reason

The twice-impeached former president unloaded on his old friends on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

It’s not clear what set off Donald Trump late Tuesday morning, after the program ended, but he issued a statement insulting co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski and falsely claimed their show was struggling in the ratings.

“Crazy Joe Scarborough and his blood-curdling psycho wife (?), Mika, are going crazy because their ratings have absolutely TANKED,” Trump said in a statement issued on his blog. “They are wrong too often and always predictable. They were right about me in 2016, but I did better in the 2020 Election with 12 million more votes. Stay tuned!” Continue reading.

Senate confirms Clarke as first Black woman to lead DOJ civil rights

The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Kristen Clarke as the new head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division in a tight 51-48 vote, with Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) the only Republican to cross party lines and vote for her.

Clarke will be the first Black woman to lead the influential wing of the Justice Department and will serve as assistant attorney general for civil rights.

The civil rights division’s tasks include investigating local law enforcement agencies and taking on state voting restrictions around the country. Continue reading.

WATCH: Trump and Jesus Christ impersonators deliver racist and pro-GOP remarks at bizarre Texas high school pep rally

Officials at the Calallen Independent School District in Texas are apologizing after a video surfaced on social media showing students at a high school pep rally portraying former President Donald Trump and Jesus Christ while saying racist remarks, the Caller Times reports.

The Snapchat video shows a Trump flag while a student impersonating Trump says, “I have to deal with China and the China Virus, A.K.A. the Kung Flu.” At the end of the video, a student impersonating Jesus takes the mic and says, “Jesus Christ is with the Republican Party” to cheers from other students. Continue reading.

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: May 27, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

While the regular legislative session has concluded, our work continues. House and Senate majorities, in partnership with the governor reached a bipartisan agreement on a budget framework last week, and now our work is focused on crafting the finer details of the budget. Our current timeline has us working towards a special session in early or mid-June.

We've Reached Bipartisan Budget Framework

The good news is we can build a budget that will ensure all Minnesotans can recover from the hardships of the past year, thanks in part to the federal funds we received from the American Rescue Plan.

Working groups made up of House and Senate members are continuing to meet to complete their portions of the budget. I continue to lead negotiations with the Senate on the Commerce/Energy portion of the state budget. I look forward to updating you on the specifics of our budget soon.

Arizona secretary of state slams ‘highly partisan,’ ‘fringe’ election audit

PHOENIX — Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) is raising new concerns about the way auditors hired by the Republican-controlled state Senate have handled more than 2.1 million ballots from the 2020 election that sat for more than a week in hot and humid trailers waiting to be counted.

The auditors, overseen by a Florida firm that has no experience auditing elections, earlier this month left ballots cast in November in Maricopa County in a trailer outside Phoenix Memorial Coliseum, a few blocks from the state capital, after their count took longer than expected.

Temperatures neared 100 degrees in Phoenix last week as auditors paused the count to allow previously scheduled high school graduation ceremonies to take place in the building. Continue reading.

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