Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: January 26, 2018

Less than One Mont Until Session!

Reflections on my first year, priorities for the second

A little over a year ago, I was officially sworn in as a state senator. Over the past twelve-and-a-half months, I have gained an appreciation for government that I could never have had as a civics teacher. Everyone who works here, be them legislative assistants or departmental staff, is incredibly committed to making the world a better place. In the classroom, I used to tell students the old adage, “laws are like sausages, you never want to see them getting made.” Looking back, I cannot believe that I spent 33 years saying that about some of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have ever met.

Every single person who works in this building, including those I disagree with, share a passion and enthusiasm for the work that they do. The legislative assistants are competent and friendly, the researchers put in long hours to provide information on even the smallest of bills, and the media department finds a way to make me look like George Clooney when I’m speaking on the senate floor. Then you have the nonpartisan staff, who physically write the bills that can be hundreds of pages long.

Most importantly though: every bill has advocates. These advocates are what make the process truly special. I have met with countless organizations and individuals within my first year, all of whom brought me vast amounts of knowledge in their effort to persuade elected officials to support their legislation. Even if we are supportive, their work is not done. Some of the best advocates continue to work with legislators to precisely craft a bill so that it achieves its intended purpose. They come as business owners, agency staff, union workers. Most of them are my own constituents, and I am overwhelmed with joy to see our senate district have such a deep sense of civic duty.

As one of my constituents, I would like to know

what some of your top priorities are.The 2018 legislative session is coming up fast, so please participate in my first web survey and let me know what is most important to you!

Please be as detailed as possible. I want to know what’s on your mind!

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A civics lesson on the gubernatorial line of succession

With the appointment of former Lt. Governor to the United States Senate, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the senate president and her ascension to the lieutenant governor position. The whole situation can be confusing, but also incredibly fascinating.

I just recently came to understand exactly how this process could play out, and the problem is that there are still so many unknowns. Right now, Senator Fischbach is serving as both a state senator and the lieutenant governor. However, there is a lawsuit pending to decide whether or not she is able to do that. If she is legally allowed to continue serving, then the process is simple and things continue as they are now. However, if the courts decide that this violates the state constitution, then things could start changing very rapidly.

Immediately, Senator Fischbach would automatically lose her senate seat, and a special election would be called for senate district 13. She has stated that if this were to happen, she would resign from her position as lieutenant governor and run in that special election. The office of lieutenant governor would still need to be filled however, and it looks as if the Speaker of the House would be next in line

However, the scenario is only this simple if the courts make their decision before session starts. The decision could take a few days to make, or a few months. If the decision is made during session or afterwards, and Fischbach is forced to step down from her senate seat, the courts may or may not invalidate her votes. There are just so many different ways this can play out.

What I find the most fascinating though is howunique of a national experiment this can be. We are now one of the only states in the country that has a governor and lieutenant governor that are each affiliated with different parties. In this era of hyper-partisanship, I see this as an incredible opportunity for our state to bring down some of the barriers between Democrats and Republicans. We can focus in on the things that unite us, instead of what divides us.

Make sure to attend to your local precinct caucus!

Precinct caucuses this year will take place onTuesday February 6. This is one of the most important parts of our electoral process. Only decades ago, party insiders alone would choose their candidates for office. The general public was only left with the choices that were given to them. Precinct caucuses allow everyone to make their voice heard before the elections themselves, and I hope you will be attending. You easily find your DFL or GOP caucus location and start making plans by clicking HERE!