Tag: HD40A

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 13, 2018

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

We have returned from our Easter/Passover break and the pace is steady as we inch toward the May 21 adjournment date. Here is an update from the Capitol:

State Employee Contracts and Pensions

Before our break, the Legislature passed and Governor Dayton signed the public employee contracts. The contracts were negotiated in 2017 and it’s time they were ratified by the legislature.

The Senate has approved a pension bill, providing a $6 billion reduction in current and future costs by lowering state, school district, county, and city liabilities, but the bill languishes in the House. Approval of this pension bill is critical to our state and to the financial future of 500,000 dedicated former state employees. I will push for the pension bill to receive the same overwhelming support as it did in the Senate, where it passed 66-0. Continue reading “Rep. Michael V. Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 13, 2018”

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 23, 2018

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update

Dear neighbors,

House Republicans continue their attack on working families and their right to organize. A new proposal would stop public sector workers from voluntarily contributing to their union’s political advocacy work through their paychecks with voluntary deductions.

House Republicans have one goal: give more power to the super-rich and their corporate donors. This not-so-hidden attack on working families will only make it harder for working Minnesotans to join together for higher incomes and better benefits. DFLers value hard work, fair pay, and the right to organize. Workers joining together to organize allows them to fight for higher wages, safer working conditions, and a path to retire with dignity. This effort is the Republicans’ most recent attempt to put corporations and the wealthy ahead of working families. Continue reading “Rep. Michael V. Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 23, 2018”

Rep. Mike Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 8, 2018

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you to all of you that came to the town hall last month. It is always helpful hearing what is important to you before the legislative session starts. It’s been another busy week at the Capitol. Here are a few things items I wanted to you to see:

School Safety and Gun Violence
As with all the recent mass shootings, there’s a point where you reach road blocks and momentum toward change seems to end. After last week’s disappointment where Republicans stopped common sense gun safety proposals including background checks, it seemed like maybe we were reaching that point. Fortunately, we’ve seen the pressure for action mounting. Continue reading “Rep. Mike Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 8, 2018”

Rep. Mike Nelson Update: March 26, 2017

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update

Dear Neighbor,

In spite of a $1.65 billion surplus, the 2017 Minnesota legislature went into overtime. Governor Dayton called legislators into Special Session on Tuesday after reaching an agreement on the framework to complete the state budget. Unfortunately, the Republican majority took several days to cross the finish line.

When the regular legislative session ended at midnight Monday, 70% of the major budget bills were unresolved including education, health and human services, and state government finance. A proposed package of tax legislation also stalled, as did a bonding bill to address infrastructure needs statewide. Continue reading “Rep. Mike Nelson Update: March 26, 2017”

Rep. Mike V. Nelson Update: May 17, 2017

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update

We are less than a week away from the legislative session adjournment deadline of May 22nd. While legislative leaders and Governor Dayton are engaged in budget talks it is hard to get everyone on the same page.

A week ago Republican legislative leaders decided to abandon budget negotiations with Governor Dayton and send him budget bills which are filled with provisions that give advantages to corporations and the very wealthy. They are forcing Minnesotans to endure deeps cuts at a time of surpluses in Minnesota. Thankfully, the Governor said he would veto the budget bills if they were included. True to his word the Governor finished vetoing all of the budget bills after legislative leaders wasted a week. Continue reading “Rep. Mike V. Nelson Update: May 17, 2017”

Rep. Mike V. Nelson Update: May 9, 2017

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update
Dear Neighbors,

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to thank and show gratitude to our educators who help shape our children’s lives and futures. Our teachers are endless advocates for our children; they need the best tools possible in the classroom to help our kids succeed.  This Capitol update focuses on the Republican Legislature’s final education budget proposals.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

Getting our children off to the best possible start in life is an investment in our future and an opportunity every family deserves. Providing adequate funding for school districts to offer voluntary pre-kindergarten to Minnesota four-year-olds ought to be a priority. Unfortunately, the House Republican proposal denies young learners access to quality pre-k in communities across our state by eliminating the successful voluntary pre-k program. Continue reading “Rep. Mike V. Nelson Update: May 9, 2017”

Rep. Mike V. Nelson Update: May 5, 2017

Rep. Michael V. Nelson (40A) – Legislative Update

Dear neighbors,

As we approach the session deadline of May 22, several budget bills remain unresolved. Despite a $1.65 billion budget surplus, Republican majorities in the House and Senate are making the wrong choices.

Governor Dayton has been actively engaged with Republicans, specifying parameters for his budget preferences and detailing items that are not acceptable. In a letter sent to the press on Tuesday, all correspondence between the governor’s staff and legislators was listed. House Democrats are working toward a compromise budget in the next two weeks, but we will not stand for policies that move the state backward and hurt Minnesotans. Continue reading “Rep. Mike V. Nelson Update: May 5, 2017”