Dear Neighbors,
March is here, but with the snow today it’s clear that Spring isn’t coming anytime soon. The legislative session continues to fly along — we’ve completed week number 8 and we have 11 weeks to go. Here’s a quick update from the Capitol.
Common-Sense Gun Violence Prevention Legislation Moving Forward
Two common-sense gun violence prevention measures — criminal background checks and extreme risk protection orders — passed out of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division this week.
Minnesotans — especially young people and gun violence survivors — have said loud and clear that they want us to take action to address the epidemic of gun violence in our communities. I support these common-sense measures to keep guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to others or themselves. You can read more about the hearings here.
February Budget Forecast
Minnesota Management and Budget released the February Economic Forecast, showing a projected positive balance of $1.052 billion for the next two years, $492 million less than the previous forecast from November. While the forecast includes inflation on the revenue side, it excludes it on the spending side in several key areas. Inflation is estimated to be $1.097 billion, so it will be impossible to increase our level of government services in education or health care without additional revenue.
This budget forecast signals significant challenges for the future. We have to be cautious going forward. A workforce shortage is constraining our economic growth, making it even more important that we focus on things that help Minnesotans enter and stay in the workforce — like job training, education, child care assistance, paid family leave, and earned safe and sick time. It is also a time to roll out the welcome mat for people who choose to move to Minnesota and expand our workforce.
The full budget forecast can be found here.
Muslim Day at the Capitol
I was honored to speak at Muslim Day At The Capitol this week, and As-Salaam-Alaikum to everyone who participated. We are proud of our Muslim community in Minnesota. I’m excited for us to work together on policies that are fair and just for all Minnesotans.
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If you are interested in being on the Board of Managers, email the City with your request by the deadline of noon on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. Please include your name, phone number, address, email address and a brief description about why you would like to be on the board. You can learn more here.
Second Harvest Heartland Groundbreaking on March 19th
Second Harvest Heartland will be holding a groundbreaking for their new distribution center in Brooklyn Park. This facility will allow them to move and store more food more effectively to their metro, suburban and rural partners across the state. The 2018 bonding bill contained $18 million for Second Harvest Heartland — an organization that does great work to try and ensure no one goes hungry.
The groundbreaking will be held on March 19th, from 3:00-4:00 pm at 7101 Winnetka Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428. You can learn more about Second Harvest Heartland here.
As always, please contact me anytime with your input. I appreciate hearing from you! You can reach me at 651-296-4280 or at rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn. You can also keep up with what’s happening at the Capitol by liking my legislative Facebook page. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hortman