Volume 6, Issue 9
March 5, 2021
Weekly Review Video
A weekly message from your Senator
Dear Constituents and Friends,
This week marks a year since Minnesota had its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The way we live our lives has changed significantly since March of 2020. As of today, 58.2% of Minnesotans ages 65+ have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. On March 3, we reached 1,498,369 doses of the vaccine administered. 975,781 Minnesotans had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 516,422 having completed a full vaccine series. Minnesota ranks third in the nation in the percentage of vaccine doses received being administered.
As a reminder, after we get through the current priority group of Minnesotans ages 65+, the vaccine eligibility will expand to people with specific high-risk health conditions and targeted essential workers. High-risk health conditions include Sickle cell disease, Down Syndrome, active cancer treatment, immunocompromised from an organ transplant, oxygen-dependent chronic lung and heart conditions (COPD and CHF). Targeted essential workers include food processing plant workers. We expect to see the expansion of vaccine eligibility in the next few weeks.
A new study from Save the Children ranked all 50 states on how children are faring best overall during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota ranked first in the nation based on four months of data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau through the end of 2020. The three metrics used to rank states was based on: hunger, lack of tools for remote learning, and difficulties families were facing with paying their bills, according to Save the Children.
State of Minnesota announces improved budget forecast for the next biennium.
Last Friday, the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (MMB) released their February budget forecast. According to MMB, Minnesota has a positive budget balance of $1.6 billion over the next biennium. The positive budget balance was due to increased federal funding to state and local governments as well as reduced state spending, leaving Minnesota in a better place fiscally than they previously projected. The first forecast to take into account the effects of COVID-19 projected a $2.4 billion deficit, which improved to a positive budget balance of $636 million in November. Through the past three months, MMB has looked at the varying factors that gave Minnesota its final forecasted budget that lawmakers will use to draft the next biennium budget.
While this forecasted budget balance is an improvement, it is important to note that the better news is not being felt by many Minnesotans. Many workers who relied on part-time positions are still unemployed or have had reduced hours for the past year. With a budget forecast reliant on one-time investments by the federal government, it will be necessary for Minnesotans to invest in their infrastructure and education to best continue recovery efforts for the state from the effects from COVID-19.
Legislative Deadlines
Next week is the “first deadline” of the legislative session. A bill must pass through all if the required policy committees in either the House or the Senate no later than March 12 at 11:59 PM.
By the “second deadline” the companion bill must pass through all of the policy committees in the other body no later than March 18 at 11:59 PM.
By the “third deadline,” an omnibus appropriations bill and its companion must have passed through the required finance divisions in both bodies no later than April 9, at 11:59 PM.
Sincerely,
Melisa