December, 2020
Passing Additional COVID Relief
The legislature has now adjourned its 7th Special Session for 2020, an unprecedented occasion for our state which normally adjourns for the year in May. Among the bills we passed during this session was a $216 million COVID relief package, to help individuals and businesses most impacted by this pandemic. There is still more to do though, and when the next legislature convenes in 2021 we need to build on this.
Getting Ready for 2021
As mentioned during a previous newsletter, I have moved offices at the Capitol. My new office is room 2231 in the Minnesota Senate Building, and we are still open (virtually) to address your questions, comments, and concerns!
I have also moved desks on the Senate Floor, though in our socially distanced environment it is unclear how much I will be using it. Farewell to the desk whose glass shattered in front of me on my very first day in office
A new session also brings new committee assignments, and they are very similar to the ones I served on last year. I am thrilled to serve you as a member of the following committees:
- Education Finance and Policy
- Environment Policy and Legacy Finance
- Local Government
I hope you continue to stay active in this upcoming legislative session, even though much of it will likely be virtual. So far this month I have met with:
- The Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
- Constituents advocating on behalf of Hammer Residences and people who live there
- Students at Scenic Heights Elementary School in Minnetonka
- School superintendents and school boards in Eden Praire and Minnetonka
- The Jewish Community Relations Council
- The Eden Prairie city council
- Friends of the Boundary Waters
- And many others!
We are doing our very best to make civic engagement as easy as possible in this virtual environment, and I am always willing to meet with my constituents. Just shoot me an email and my phenomenal legislative assistant, Greg Weiner, will get us set up for a virtual meeting or phone call!
Talking Education with Senate Media
Last week I had the opportunity to appear on the Senate’s news program, Capitol Report, with moderator Shannon Loehrke. We had a great conversation about my experience in the classroom, the philosophy of teaching, and my new book. You can check out the segment by clicking HERE!
Virtually Connecting for Another Town Hall
Rep. Pryor, Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn, and I hosted a virtual town hall meeting last week, and it was a pleasure to see many of your names pop up as viewers and in the comments section. Thank you to those who submitted their questions beforehand to help streamline this process, and thank you to everyone for your patience during this difficult time. You can watch a recording of the town hall by clicking HERE!
Electoral College Members Cast Their Votes
In town halls and city halls across Minnesota, citizens engaged. Election officials and volunteers put in countless, thankless hours. On November 3rd we the people exercised our sacred duty in record numbers. Last Monday our state’s 10 electors finished the process. Democracy really is something to behold.
A New Paper in Town
Many of you know that in April the Eden Prairie News closed its doors. In response, the community has come together to launch the Eden Prairie Local News, and I could not be more grateful. As Thomas Jefferson once said: “If I had to choose between a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” You can check out an article about this in the Star Tribune by clicking HERE. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.
Student Workers Begin Receiving Unemployment Benefits
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We have experienced unprecedented layoffs during this pandemic, in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While we have expanded our unemployment insurance program to fit this need, there were still unfortunately people who were unable to access it. A big group of these workers were high school students, who have been working and paying into the system but unable to access benefits. For many families, these students brought home income that was essential to their family’s wellbeing, being used for things like groceries and healthcare. A recent court decision put a fix to this, and the Department of Employment and Economic Development has begun issuing payments. You can view the department’s press release by clicking HERE. Thank you to all of the young people who kept up the pressure on this.
Happy Holidays and Happy Reading
I know I said this in our last newsletter, but happy holidays again! I know how difficult it is to be socially distanced from our families during this time. Still, this does present an opportunity to grab a book off the shelf that you’ve been meaning to read. What are you planning to read for pleasure this holiday season? I hope whatever you choose to read brings you joy, intrigue, knowledge, or whatever else you are looking for in your book. I wish you all the best and a very happy new year.