Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Floor session is in full force and more omnibus bills have made it past the floor and are heading to conference committee. Conference committee is where members of the house and senate on related committees come together to negotiate the final version of each omnibus bill and eventually send back to the respected floors for final vote to be sent to the Governor.
While session is swiftly approaching its end there is still an incredible amount of work to be done. I am grateful to be here working for all of you to make sure we create a better Minnesota and ensure our local communities are taken care of.
It has also been a hard few weeks for us all. There are more details contained in this ENews but with recent events on all fronts let us remember to strive for justice, peace and be kind to one another.
John
Health and Human Services Reform Omnibus
As a proud author of SF 383, I am very excited to say that this omnibus bill will travel to the floor of the senate and in all likelihood, it will pass, What makes this or any omnibus bill so important is that it includes all the funding and instruction for the department its intended for. Another way to think of how an omnibus bill is to compare it to the primary code a computer runs. This omnibus bill in particular is for the Human Services Reform committee that deals with the Department of Health and Human Services or DHHS. This omnibus includes everything from new economic supports, to strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, to grants aimed at expanding access childcare options for children with disabilities, and to create uniform standards for mental health services. At a staggering 645 pages long, this bill is too extensive to summarize in full, but with cooperation and hard work of the entire bipartisan Human Services Reform committee, you can rest assured that this bill will help all Minnesotans no matter what their race, ethnicity, ability, orientation, religion, or gender may be. It was an honor to join Chair Abeler to present this large bill in front of the Finance Committee and see it pass without objections. This work is truly bi partisan as there are a number of policy and financial bills that were included where the chief authors are Democrats. Go figure, imagine if we could all do policy work like this we will live out the vision of Jim Ramstad who said Human Services work must be pragmatic, common sense and about the individuals the services are intended for and leave politics out of this. I believe this kind of work together is in the best interest of all Minnesotans.
Transportation Omnibus
On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed the HF 1684, the transportation omnibus budget bill, by a vote of 40 to 26. The bill contains nearly $7 billion in funding for a range of transportation projects, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Safety. I am proud to say that this omnibus bill included much needed funding for transportation projects throughout the north metro, including $12 million in funding for Highway 10, for Highway 65, and for the Ramsey Gateway Project. These necessary upgrades will improve traffic flow, safety, and will create hundreds of jobs for our community. I’m proud to vote yes for this bipartisan package.
In total, approximately $42.5 million in funding is included for these projects. This includes $7 million in grants to the city of Blaine for a local road intersection at 99th Avenue Northeast and marked Trunk Highway 65 and associated local road improvements. Investing in our infrastructure is vital to the success of not just our communities, but for the entire state economy, as businesses across the state rely on these vital highways. This funding is a bipartisan priority that I’m happy to support.
Legacy omnibus bill sees unanimous support in Senate
This year’s Legacy Finance Omnibus Bill passed off the Senate floor unanimously this week. The bill appropriates funding from the four ‘legacy’ funds that were established by the Legacy Constitutional Amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008. The four funds – the Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Clean Water Fund, the Parks and Trails Fund, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund – were established to provide ongoing support to projects across the state that protect and enhance water quality, provide access to the arts, preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage, and maintain our parks and trails.
Included in the bill are some of the recommendations for projects from the Clean Water Council and all of the recommendations for projects from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. It maintains a spending ratio of 40:40:20 for parks and trails, which distributes spending from the Parks and Trails Fund at 40% to the DNR for state parks and trails, 40% to the Metropolitan Council for metro parks and trails, and 20% to Greater Minnesota regional parks and trails. Additionally, 47% of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund appropriations will be allocated to the Minnesota State Arts Board for grants and programs, and $4 million will be allocated to the Humanities Center for a Community Identity and Heritage Grant program.
It’s not often a bill as large as the Legacy Omnibus bill passes with unanimous support, which speaks to the bipartisan nature of the work that went into assembling the bill. The legislation will head next to a conference committee with the House to work out differences between the two, before it comes back to the Senate for final approval. (SF 971)
Environment Omnibus
In our community, the Environment Omnibus has established $500,000 to conduct habitat and stream restoration of 0.7 miles of Elm Creek shoreline above Mill Pond Lake through the Elm Creek Protection Area. They have also set aside $521,000 to conduct habitat and stream restoration in Elm Creek upstream of Mill Ponds. This is an important piece of legislation as it adds another phase to the history of my efforts to fund the Champlin Mill Pond, recalling the first ever with the renewed Damn and last year with the money for our Gateway. All in all, it has been my pleasure to help secure over 14 Million dollars for the City of Champlin in its efforts along the Mississippi and the Mill Pond.
Thank You!
It is my greatest honor to represent you the citizens of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids here at our great state capitol. In addition to representing you, I absolutely enjoy it when you come visit. You must schedule with our office to arrange an appointment before any arrival, and we also do Zoom meetings! So reach out and tell me what matters to you or schedule an appointment so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn or by phone at 651-296-4154. I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2235 in the Minnesota Senate Building.
Sincerely,
Senator John Hoffman
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call my office at 651-296-4154 or by e-mail at jhoffman@senate.mn
In Memory of Walter Mondale, Minnesota’s Son
“Walter Mondale endorsed my election in 2012 with a “I am all in for Hoffman” slogan. When I became a State Senator, I had the pleasure of escorting him to the House Chamber floor and sit next to him as we listened to Governor Mark Dayton give a State of the State address. The Vice President and I got our cardio workout that evening as there were many ovations for the Governor and the work he was setting out to do for the State of Minnesota. To be able to spend time in conversation with the Vice President and listening to the state of the State I can only think of one word, “grateful.” Grateful for this opportunity to spend time with a true statesman, grateful for the time and commitment the Vice President took to say “I am all in for Hoffman.” Grateful to be able to share the success of not only Minnesota but of the Nation with a person that was the driving force behind those successes, especially civil rights. Grateful to you Vice President Mondale for making Minnesota, the Nation and the World a better place.”
Senator John Hoffman
This week we mourn the loss of Minnesota’s son, Walter Mondale, who died at the age of 93 in Minneapolis surrounded by his loved ones. Born in southern Minnesota to a Methodist minister and music teacher, Walter would grow up with a deep connection to the state and its values. Always knowing he wanted to help his community as a public servant, Walter became involved with Minnesota state politics immediately after graduation from the University of Minnesota Law School. Walter served the public as Minnesota’s state attorney general in 1960 and continued his good work as a US Senator from Minnesota. This ascension into national politics foreshadowed his later success as Jimmy Carter’s vice president as the senate seat Walter was filling belonged to Hubert Humphrey who served as Lyndon Johnson’s vice president. Walter Mondale stayed in the United States Senate until 1976 when he became Carter’s running mate. Jimmy Carter had this to say about his vice president and close friend, “[he was] the best vice president in our country’s history. Fritz (Walter) used his political skill and personal integrity to transform the vice presidency into a dynamic, policy-driving force that had never been seen before and still exists today. He was an invaluable partner and an able servant of the people of Minnesota, the United States, and the world”. Walter served the public in more roles than just vice president. He served in the US Army for two years at the rank of corporal, he chose the first female vice presidential candidate for a major party—Geraldine Ferraro (NY)—as his running mate in 1984, and he served as the US ambassador to Japan as well as the envoy to Indonesia under Clinton. As both a national leader and a local Minnesotan hero, we all mourn his loss and cherish in our memories of his service.
“Do not despair. In every defeat are found the seeds of victory.”
—Walter F. Mondale
Senator Hoffman Supports Healthcare Workers’ Strike at Allina
4,000 Frontline Healthcare Workers at Allina Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize ULP Strike
Healthcare-related jobs make up the largest industry in 17 different states, including Minnesota. Burned out by an emotionally and physically exhausting year on the front lines of the pandemic, nearly a third of America’s healthcare workers are thinking of leaving their jobs. The companies that employ health care workers should be more focused than ever on taking their needs into account and helping to ensure that their employees are being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Here in Minnesota, Allina Health has continuously failed to meet its employees’ basic needs, offering a 0% pay increase even after the economic recession and rise in unemployment. Allina has refused to implement safety measures to help protect workers even as they operate in one of the most dangerous lines of work, treating patients who actively have COVID. With this in mind, the decision of 4,000 Allina frontline workers to go on strike is perfectly sensible. As an elected official, I want to do more than just legislate so myself and my colleague Jim Abeler went down with the protesters and joined them in demanding pay increases and workplace safety improvements. Senator Abeler and I will continue to advocate for the rights of workers, especially those in healthcare, who sacrifice so much to keep us healthy and safe.
Local News
Anoka-Hennepin rated highly in resident survey | Education
As anyone in the Minnesota State Capital will tell you, Senator Hoffman’s interns seek out only the best bits of local news to share via his weekly newsletter. The polls are in, people love Champlin Minnesota! What the link above offers is a beautiful bite-size bit of bedazzled and bejeweled local news that even a baroque babbit could babble baneful bales of hay over.
2 Anoka-Hennepin teachers semifinalists for Teacher of the Year
These teachers got swag, talent, charisma, and the skills to pay the bills. Anoka-Hennepin is proud to have two of its teachers in the semifinalists for teacher of the year.
The Vikings’ Potential First-Round Pick Nobody is Talking About
Vikings rule! Packers drool! The Bears are ok! Lions don’t factor much!
Hennepin County Board approves latest climate action plan
As world leaders meet to set new goals for dealing with the serious threat posed by climate change, action is happening here on the local level too. The Hennepin County Board got one step closer to passing an ambitious climate plan that will bring county emissions down to net zero by 2050 and implement a modern, sustainable infrastructure network, making it easier to get around without driving. In a county home to nearly a quarter of Minnesota’s population, this plan will have a major impact on bringing down the state’s carbon emissions as a whole.
Information and Resources
State Government
Governor
651.201.3400 | http://mn.gov/governor
Attorney General
651.296.3353 | www.ag.state.mn.us
Representative Melissa Hortman (36B)
651.296.4280
Representative Zack Stephenson (36A)
651.296.5513
Driver’s Licenses
651.297.3298 | drivers-license-information.aspx
MN Energy Assistance Program
800.657.3710 | https://mn.gov/commerce/eap.jsp
Election Information
651.215.1440 | https://www.sos.state.mn.us/
Emerald Ash Borer Prevention and Detection
(MN Dept. of Agriculture)
pestmanagement/eab/eabbiocontrol
651.201.6684
Local Government
City of Champlin | 763.421.8100
City of Brooklyn Park| 763.424.8000
City of Coon Rapids | 763.755.2880
Anoka County | 763.421.4760
Federal Government
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
612.727.5220 | https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/
U.S. Senator Tina Smith
202.224-5641 | https://www.smith.senate.gov/HomePage
U.S. Congressman Dean Phillips (3rd CD)
202.225.2871 | https://phillips.house.gov/