House DFL , CD3 DFL

House DFL Team: One Year Later

One year ago today George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. The guilty verdicts delivered earlier this spring are a step toward justice, but there is a long way to go to provide true public safety and justice for all.

Last year the Legislature, led by the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, passed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020 which included a ban on chokeholds, use of force reforms, and mental health training amongst other critical reforms. This was a good first step, but more needs to be done.

No matter where we were born, how we pray, or what we look like, every Minnesotan deserves to make it home at the end of the day. George Floyd, Daunte Wright, and so many others should still be alive.

While we can’t bring George Floyd back, we can honor his memory by continuing the fight for justice and accountability.

DFL Party Applauds Passage of Bill Legalizing Cannabis

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Following the passage of HF 600, which legalizes adult-use cannabis in Minnesota, DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“I applaud House DFLers for their historic vote to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis. The people of Minnesota and DFL Party lawmakers are ready to legalize and responsibly regulate cannabis, expunge non-violent convictions, and end the harm done by senseless prohibition laws.

House DFLers work to advance reforms to Minnesota’s corrections system

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Saturday, the House/Senate Conference Committee on the Public Safety & Judiciary budget discussed proposed reforms to the state’s corrections system. House DFLers on the committee presented well-crafted proposals to protect the safety of those in our state prisons and jails, to improve probation terms that can help those serving time to better their lives, and to stop practices that traumatize young people in our juvenile justice systems. Lawmakers heard from people who’ve lost loved ones in Minnesota jails as they considered proposals to improve safety within facilities.

“Everyone who enters a correction facility deserves to be safe and should have hope that as they re-enter society, they can be a successful, contributing member of their community. Today, we heard how our systems are falling short of those objectives,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), Chair of the House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee. “We have the capacity to build a corrections system that both delivers the accountability that comes with wrongdoing, while recognizing the humanity and worth within each and every person.”

Commissioner Paul Schnell and other officials from the Minnesota Department of Corrections provided testimony on the budget proposals, including Deputy Commissioner Curtis Shanklin who discussed the importance of juvenile justice reforms. The committee discussed the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act, a proposed new sentencing approach allowing those incarcerated to earn early release by successfully completing goals within an Individualized Rehabilitation Plan. Lawmakers also discussed proposed reforms to how technical violations can best be handled for individuals on probation and new regulations regarding the use of jailhouse witnesses.

House POCI Caucus Joins Call for Expedited Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee; Presses Senate to Act on Police Accountability

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Tuesday, April 27th, the Senate POCI Caucus sent a letter to Governor Walz and Legislative Leaders urging that the Public Safety and Judiciary conference committee begin it’s work immediately, that conferees be required to complete their work by the end of the week delivering the final bill that will be sent to the floor of both Houses by Monday, May 3rd, and be promptly sent to the Governor for his signature or veto. This is to ensure that these critical police reform decisions are given the time necessary to be discussed publicly and independently without being used as a bargaining chip in unrelated budget negotiations. The House POCI Caucus concurs with this call to action and released the following statement of support:

“In just two weeks since the killing of Daunte Wright, one week since the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, Senate Republicans are already sweeping police accountability under the rug. Our demands to transform our public safety and judicial system must not be ignored. Each day wasted is another day closer to another preventable tragedy. Governor Walz and the Legislative Leaders should not be fooled by the relative quiet. We are in the midst of a crisis, and our communities of color and Indigenous communities are demanding structural changes so we can live in a Minnesota where our lives are valued and protected. It is time that we learn from the loss of Daunte Wright, George Floyd, and countless others. We must pursue transformational police reform that will create a just Minnesota where everyone is treated fairly and safely.

Minnesota House approves Environment and Natural Resources budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed its Environment and Natural Resources budget on a vote of 70-63. This legislation aims to protect and enhance Minnesota’s environment and natural resources for current and future generations.

“Problem solving is not easy, but that is why Minnesotans elected us,” said Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. “Minnesotans are proud of our state’s many natural resources, and we want current and future generations to be able to enjoy the great outdoors. This is a problem-solving bill that addresses unprecedented threats to our environment and protects our air, water, land, and wildlife.”

Minnesota House approves changes to tax system to improve fairness, fund new investments in students, families, small businesses

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House Democrats approved new changes to state taxes to improve fairness and pay for important investments in students, families, and small businesses. The proposal expands the Working Family Tax Credit, establishes conformity on unemployment insurance and PPP loans (up to $350,000 per loan), and provides aid for small businesses that did not receive a PPP loan or did not make a profit in 2020.

“This tax bill is how Minnesota can make sure our neighbors and community members hit hardest by COVID-19 don’t get left behind,” said Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth), chair of the House Taxes Committee. “It’s been an extremely tough year for working families, students, senior citizens, farmers, and small businesses. When the biggest corporations and the wealthiest are doing extremely well, Minnesotans expect the Legislature to level the playing field and fund important investments in people.”

To fund important investments in students, families, and small businesses, the House DFL tax bill creates a new 5th Tier income tax rate of 11.15% on income above $1 million (or $500,000 for single filers) and prevents multinational corporations from sheltering profits in offshore tax havens like Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

Minnesota House Advances Energy and Commerce Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House of Representatives advanced the energy and commerce budget bill on a vote of 70-64.

The Climate and Energy portion of the budget puts Minnesota on a path to achieve 100 percent clean energy in the electricity sector by 2040. It improves energy efficiency goals, strengthens the renewable energy preference, and updates state emissions targets to align with the latest scientific projections. The bill delivers critical funding to help reach these ambitious goals, including nearly $20 million to install solar energy systems on school buildings, state-owned buildings, and in state parks; $10 million to create a nonprofit Innovative Finance Authority to leverage private investment in clean energy; and $5.5 million to expand a solar manufacturing plant in Mountain Iron, which would make it the second largest in the nation. These investments will accelerate the transition to clean energy while helping Minnesotans save money on their electricity bills.

“This bill is about ensuring Minnesota is leading the transition to a clean energy economy,” said Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), chair of the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee. “Seizing our opportunity to make a rapid and equitable transition to clean energy will create good-paying jobs and affordable energy and address the threat of climate change. We do this while making sure all Minnesotans – especially those most impacted by climate change – can access these benefits.”

POCI Caucus Statement on Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Tuesday, April 20, the jury reached a guilty verdict on all charges in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. The Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus released the following statement:

“This is not a joyful moment. As we watched the trial and relived the desperate final moments of a man’s life and the cruelty of one who is supposed to protect, we were reminded that we do not live in a just society. The finding of guilt in the actions of an officer not only condemns the actions of that man, but our society and public safety system as a whole. While the verdict is guilty, we demand that Derek Chauvin receive the maximum sentence for his crime.

“Justice cannot stop at punishment, it must continue in everything we do to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again. We have the opportunity to create a just society, this verdict has planted the seed of justice in tenuous soil polluted by years of oppression and injustice. It is now up to us, our white colleagues, and all Minnesotans who value human life to nurture this seed so that it may grow into true justice.

“Amongst the chaos of this past year, there are two truths that will stick with us for the rest of our lives and for generations to come. The first; George Floyd should still be alive. The second; George Floyd has changed the world. How exactly the world has been changed remains in our hands. The POCI Caucus will work to create a world where Black Lives Matter, where every life is sacred, where every person feels safe and secure, and where Black, Brown, and Indigenous children can live joyfully free from the oppression of our unjust society.

“Lastly, we extend our deepest sympathies to George Floyd’s friends and family. You lost a loved one in a horrific way and your pain was displayed to the world. No one should have to go through what you did. Your courage and perseverance is an inspiration, and we will hold you in our hearts always.”

The People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus includes Reps. Esther Agbaje (59B), Jamie Becker-Finn (42B), Cedrick Frazier (45A), Aisha Gomez (62B), Hodan Hassan (Vice- Chair 62A), Kaohly Her (64A), Athena Hollins (66B), Fue Lee (59A), Carlos Mariani (65B), Rena Moran (65A), Mohamud Noor (60B), Ruth Richardson (52B), John Thompson (67A), Samantha Vang (Chair, 40B), Jay Xiong (67B), Tou Xiong (53B), and Senators Bobby Joe Champion (59), Omar Fateh (62), Melisa Franzen (49), Foung Hawj (67), Mary Kunesh (41), Patricia Torres Ray (Chair, 63). Rep. Heather Keeler signed onto this statement in solidarity.

House DFLers Highlight Public Safety Budget with Funding, Reform and Justice for Minnesotans

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday, House DFL lawmakers discussed their 2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform budget bill. The legislation invests in law enforcement, improves police accountability, and listens to the victims of sex crimes.

“Every person deserves to live with human dignity in their community. To deliver on this promise, we have the responsibility to ensure our systems treat all Minnesotans with fairness and respect, while delivering justice,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee. “In the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial, with the eyes of the world once again upon our state, it’s incumbent upon all of us to listen to Minnesotans and deliver the change they’re seeking so they can experience true public safety, no matter where they live or what they look like. Our work is inspired by the diverse citizens who are stepping up to be part of making communities safe, from multi-racial neighborhood based intervention work to advocates for juveniles and vulnerable adults. We have the ability to deliver critical funding while enacting reforms Minnesotans are counting on, and this bill does exactly that.”

House Early Childhood and Workforce Committees Pass Historic Investments in Early Care and Learning

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, two Minnesota House committees, Early Childhood Finance and Policy and Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy, finalized budget bills to increase investments in the youngest Minnesotans and their caregivers by nearly $600 million in state and federal funds.

“The early care and learning sector was in crisis even before the pandemic,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), chair of the Early Childhood committee and author of that committee’s budget bill. “The opportunity gaps in our state start in the earliest months and years. But the economics of this sector are broken, unaffordable or inaccessible for families, with poverty wages for providers – our most important teachers. The ambitious agenda we’ve passed today will take great strides toward addressing these needs.”

“Increasing access to child care is crucial to sustaining and strengthening our state’s economic stabilization, economic security, and economic recovery,” said Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL – Minneapolis), chair of the Workforce and Business Development committee and author of that committee’s budget bill. “Our Workforce and Business Development budget increases investment in child care business development in underserved areas, complementing the Early Childhood budget, which invests in early childhood initiatives that will help improve our current and future workforce development in Minnesota.”

“House DFLers believe that all of our children deserve a great start in life,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Our budget will make significant investments in early care and learning to expand availability, address our inexcusable opportunity gaps and ensure our children have the opportunity to succeed.”

In earlier hearings, the Early Childhood committee found that providing high-quality early care and learning to the low-income young children who need it most would cost approximately an additional $1 billion. The committee’s budget closes that gap significantly by investing:

more than $200 million to raise reimbursement rates for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), finally getting Minnesota closer to the federal standard,
nearly $40 million in early learning scholarships directed to the very youngest and most vulnerable Minnesotans, and
more than $300 million in monthly payments to providers and frontline workers, in recognition of the fundamental need for ongoing public support.

The two committees’ budgets also expand the supply of child care, including grants for:

$10 million through the Department of Employment and Economic Development
$10 million through the Department of Human Services
$2 million through the Minnesota Initiative Foundations

Additional funds are used for a wide variety of evaluation and reform efforts in this critical sector.

More information about the hearings at which the budget was approved, including supporting documents, can be found on the Early Childhood committee webpage. and Workforce & Business Development committee webpage. Videos of the hearings are available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: