April 16, 2021
Dear Neighbors,
As I write you today, I want to begin by acknowledging that this has been a difficult week for all Minnesotans. The death of Daunte Wright has once again brought Minnesota into the spotlight due to police violence. It has once again shown the reality of Dr. King’s statement that “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” I will continue to work with my colleagues in the legislature to advance justice and racial equity, and ensure that we are doing all we can to make our state welcoming and safe for all Minnesotans.
This week, the Senate began passing omnibus budget bills off the floor. The next step in the process will be conference committees, where the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Walz administration will work out differences, and send bills to the Governor for his signature. The state budget must be adopted by July 1st of this year, but I am hopeful that agreements will be reached before the end of the legislative session.
Judiciary Bill Fails to Meet the Moment
The Senate this week passed its judiciary budget bill. The committee was given a $90 million target, which allows for some investments in the state’s court and corrections system, and in some public safety requests. Of the target, $20 million of that target was reserved for disaster assistance for our local communities. The bill, however, is a stark portrait of Senate Republican priorities. The bill contains no policing and criminal justice reform, no justice programs, and little in the way of reducing the intersectional causes behind crime and recidivism. These failures are particularly galling following Daunte Wright’s death and renewed calls for justice.
There has been renewed focus on transformational changes to Minnesota’s criminal justice and policing systems in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent beginning of the Derek Chauvin trial. Republicans promised they would continue this important work after passing a bare minimum reform bill last summer but have not kept that promise. Senate DFLers are committed to working with the House and Governor Walz through the conference committee to bring these important measures forward.
Senate DFLers have also worked to address systemic injustices present through much of our societal systems, including fixing practices that further harm victims of sexual assault, rewriting laws that disproportionately affect our communities of color, and uplifting programs that work to eliminate these injustices. It was only due to the hard work of Senate DFLers on the committee and the incredible determination of stakeholders and victims that pressured Senate Republicans into accepting the legislative recommendations from the state’s criminal sexual conduct working group, including language that would address the state’s Supreme Court ruling on the definition of “mentally incapacitated”. Senate DFLers were also able to pass an amendment on the floor that eliminates the statute of limitation for some sexual criminal conduct crimes in the state. These are important provisions to enact this session.
Senate Republicans blocked amendments to the bill that would prohibit law enforcement officers from affiliating with white supremacist organizations, establish an office for missing and murdered indigenous women, and close loopholes and enhance the state’s hate crime laws to better protect Asian Americans. Senate DFLers have tried to bring bills forward on these subjects to be heard in the Judiciary Committee and no hearings were given.
Budgets for Commerce/Energy, Higher Education, Jobs and Economic Development Tell Same Story
Several other budget bills that passed the Senate this week were disappointing as well. Some particularly concerning elements include:
- Commerce – $150 million for Reinsurance. This program was initially billed as a temporary bridge, but after four years and millions of taxpayer dollars, we should be looking at other solutions for Minnesotans who continue to find insurance on the individual market unaffordable.
- Energy – $0 to address climate change. Instead of funding solar and wind energy, significant funds from the Renewable Development Account are being directed to wood pellet and biomass allocations that will not serve us as well. We have the opportunity to accelerate our progress towards meeting clean energy goals through bills like the Clean Energy First bill, but sadly (if unsurprisingly) Senate Republicans have left that out.
- Higher Education – $30 million below the funding request for the University of Minnesota, and $60 million below MinnState’s funding request.
- Jobs/Economic Development – $0 in equity investments for BIPOC communities, no Earned Sick and Safe Leave, no Paid Family Medical Leave, removes critical worker protections for health, safety, and wage theft.
There may be good provisions in each of these bills, but Senate Republicans have chosen to make limited investments in important areas of our budget, and that does not reflect the reality of the needs of Minnesotans. As bills are negotiated with the House, the bills will improve, and I hope we can reach the level of budget investments we need to set a positive course for Minnesota over the next two years.
Vaccination Site at State Fairgrounds
Recently, Governor Walz announced that the State Fairgrounds would host a vaccination site for Minnesotans in certain higher need areas – including all of Richfield, as well as the 55420 and 55425 ZIP codes in Bloomington. If you’d like to sign up for an appointment, you can call 1-833-431-2053 or use the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector. There will be no cost and Minnesotans will not need to provide an ID or medical insurance to be vaccinated.
As budget bills are passed and begin the conference committee process, we will be taking up other bills, as well. With only four weeks left in the Session, we have no time to lose. Simply put, the work we will be doing matters to all Minnesotans. This week, I was fortunate to meet with constituents with Howling for Wolves, and the Minnesota Catholic Conference. I’m looking forward to continuing to meet with our neighbors in Richfield and Bloomington in the final weeks of the legislative session, and afterward. I hope you’ll continue to keep in touch if you have any questions or concerns you’d like to share!
Regards,
Melissa