Tag: Leader Winkler

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on the Minnesota COVID-19 Fund

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Friday, Governor Walz called on the Minnesota Legislature to replenish and extend the Minnesota COVID-19 fund. The $200 million fund has $65 million remaining and is set to expire on May 11.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“We support extending the Minnesota COVID-19 Fund, and the House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill to do so today,” said Speaker Hortman. “We also support replenishing the fund as quickly as possible. The Walz Administration needs the flexibility to move quickly — more quickly than the legislative process sometimes allows — to purchase critical items for our COVID response. We are continuing conversations with Republicans in the House and Senate to pass legislation as soon as possible.”

 “Minnesota’s COVID-19 Fund has been well-used by the Walz Administration to buy personal protective equipment, ventilators, alternative care facilities, and, most recently, a facility for temporary storage of human remains  — all with proper legislative oversight,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “It’s critical for the Legislature to extend this fund and invest additional dollars.”  

Minnesota House expected to pass COVID-19 economic security legislation

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Yesterday afternoon, the Minnesota House of Representatives was expected to pass a package of COVID-19 economic security legislation. The bill, HF 1507, contains provisions for housing assistance, a temporary wage increase for personal care assistants, funding to expand broadband access, and small business loans.

“Minnesotans’ economic security has been hit hard during this public health crisis, and we have the resources to help them through the roughest patches of the pandemic,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Today, the Minnesota House is taking an important step to help Minnesotans keep a roof over their heads, preserve their small businesses, facilitate distance learning and telemedicine, and ensure we have the workforce we need to provide care for the vulnerable.”

“Minnesota has the resources we need to address this crisis; we just need the will to act,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesotans need investments in the things that will help them make it through this crisis and thrive after it, including quality health care, economic security, a good education, and safe and healthy communities. Minnesota can and should invest in Minnesotans to ensure their economic security now and into the future.” Continue reading “Minnesota House expected to pass COVID-19 economic security legislation”

Majority Leader Winkler introduces adult-use cannabis legislation, will continue conversation after crisis ends

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler introduced legislation today that would legalize the adult use of cannabis. The legislation is the result of months of public discussions on how to responsibly legalize and regulate cannabis.

“We made a commitment to introduce legislation this session, and we wanted to follow through on that commitment,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Our current priority is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but after the town halls and discussions around this issue, we still wanted to put a strong bill forward. As we look to come out of this crisis as a better, stronger Minnesota, we need to continue working toward legalizing cannabis for responsible adult use.”

The bill includes the following:

    • Creates a regulatory structure focused on developing micro-businesses and a craft market
    • Provides for expungement of most cannabis convictions
    • Provides for a limited allowance of home grow
    • Requires testing and labeling of products
    • Restricts packaging based on dosage size
    • Provides funding for public health awareness, youth access prevention, and substance abuse addiction and treatment
    • Provides grants, loans, technical assistance, and training for small businesses
    • Uses best practices from other states to account for negative externalities

“Minnesotans have been loud and clear that our current cannabis laws are doing more harm than good,” added Majority Leader Winkler. “By creating a regulatory framework we can address the harms caused by cannabis and establish a more sensible set of laws to improve our health care and criminal justice systems and ensure better outcomes for communities.”

The text of the bill, HF 4632, can be found here.

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on budget projection

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Minnesota Management and Budget released an updated budget projection showing a projected $2.426 billion deficit in the current biennium. Minnesota currently has $350 million in the state’s cash flow account and $2.359 billion in the budget reserves. House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“While we expected the state’s financial picture to worsen, I am relieved that the size of the projected deficit was not larger,” said Speaker Hortman. “Thanks to prudent financial management of the state’s resources by the executive and legislative branches over the past decade, Minnesota has enough resources in the budget reserve and the cash flow accounts to weather the downturn. I’m pleased Minnesota has received $1.87 billion in federal aid, which allows us to take measures to provide economic security to Minnesotans to help them get through the COVID-19 downturn. Investments are needed to make Minnesotans secure in their housing, help small businesses, facilitate distance learning and telemedicine, and to ensure we have the workforce we need to provide care for the elderly and people with disabilities. The federal assistance allows us to make these needed investments, while our state’s savings will cover our expected dip in revenue.”

“Minnesota has the resources we need to address this crisis; we just need the will to act,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “We must stay the course to reduce the impact of COVID-19, save lives, and help Minnesotans get through the storm. Minnesotans need investments in the things that will help them make it through this crisis and thrive after it, including quality health care, economic security, a good education, and safe and healthy communities.”

Minnesota House Advances Bill to Support Hourly School Workers

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the COVID-19 response legislation for hourly school workers.

“During this challenging and unexpected time of distance learning, Minnesota’s school staff have stepped up in extraordinary ways,” said Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), Chair of the Education Finance Division. “Recognizing the value that they create every day for students we propose holding school districts financially whole so that they in turn can keep their Education Support Professionals, bus drivers, food program and other hourly staff whole during any school closures related to the current public health crisis.”

“Our teachers and hourly school employees have never been more important to our children and our families,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “We need to ensure that all school employees continue to get paid through the end of the school year. They deserve economic security and our support — especially during these difficult times.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Advances Bill to Support Hourly School Workers”

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on local jobs and projects bill

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“It’s disappointing to see the minority leader threaten to block much-needed investments in local jobs and projects in our communities,” said Speaker Hortman. “Governor Walz and his Administration have served the people of Minnesota well during this crisis, and his thoughtfulness is why Minnesotans overwhelmingly approve of his actions. Ending the peacetime emergency declaration before the emergency has passed would be reckless.”

“Minnesota needs to build its way out of the COVID-19 crisis, not play games with Governor Walz’s needed emergency powers,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesotans in every part of the state need a strong local projects and jobs bill, and DFLers in the House are committed to delivering it with no strings attached. Workers need jobs that are safe, and we intend to create as many of them as we can.”

 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on COVID-19 vigil

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on last night’s vigil for workers who have become infected with COVID-19 while on the job. 

“Our first responders, health care, and essential workers are putting themselves on the front line of the battle against this pandemic every day,” said Speaker Hortman. “We owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude. The Minnesota House of Representatives will continue to do all we can to support these heroes.”

“All Minnesotans deserve the opportunity to be healthy and safe. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, our first responders, nurses, and health care workers are the people making that happen,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “They are serving Minnesotans well at great personal risk to themselves and their families. They have our deepest appreciation, and we will continue working to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely.”

 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on extended Stay at Home order

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — This afternoon, Governor Walz announced an extension of his Stay at Home Executive Order, directing Minnesotans to limit movements outside of their homes until May 18, 2020. The Governor also announced that starting May 4, retail businesses and other non-critical businesses may begin offering curbside pick-up and delivery. 

House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“During this pandemic, Minnesota’s government is faced with excruciating choices as we work to preserve the health, safety, and economic well-being of Minnesotans,” said Speaker Hortman. “I am pleased to see some increased flexibility for businesses and consumers under the Governor’s announcement today. The sacrifices we have made have been difficult for all of us, but have been necessary to allow us the time to prepare for the surge that appears increasingly inevitable. We cannot lose sight of the reason we all are sacrificing so much — we are working to preserve as many lives as we can. The Walz Administration and our health care professionals have used this time well to dramatically upgrade our level of preparedness. We have substantially more hospital capacity, ventilators, and personal protective equipment than we did when the stay-at-home order began. We have to stick together and keep doing all we can to slow the spread of this disease so we have the supplies we need to care for Minnesotans and to protect our health care workers.”

“Now is not the time to retreat. If we continue to fight this virus, we can build a stronger, safer, and better Minnesota as we come out of this crisis,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Calls to disregard public health concerns now will further delay our efforts to get more Minnesotans safely back to work. Instead of putting Minnesotans’ health at risk, we should continue focusing on how to safeguard Minnesotans’ health and well-being now and into the future. That’s exactly what Governor Walz and his Administration are trying to do.”

 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on allowing certain

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA— Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on Governor Walz’s announcement that certain non-critical businesses can reopen:

“Minnesotans’ work ethic is unparalleled across the country — we are a hard-working and productive state. Minnesotans care about one another’s health and we share a commitment to taking action to lessen the risk posed by COVID-19,” said Speaker Hortman. “The steps Governor Walz outlined today for office, industrial, and manufacturing workplaces are a welcome signal that together we have made progress slowing the spread of this disease, and that we are learning the steps we must take to keep each other safe moving forward. I appreciate that Governor Walz and his team are continuing to follow the science and are putting Minnesotans’ health and safety first. Our foremost concern continues to be ensuring that we can protect our health care system from being overwhelmed, and that we can protect health care workers who are risking their lives to treat Minnesotans.”

“Minnesotans need as much economic security as we can provide during this public health crisis, and those least likely to have it are being hardest hit,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “House DFLers are working to ensure the health and economic well-being of Minnesotans now and into the future.”

 

Extended distance learning increases need to guarantee pay for frontline school employees,

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on Governor Walz’s announcement that distance learning will be extended through the end of the school year:

“Minnesota’s schoolchildren miss their teachers and they miss their friends. This pandemic has changed so much for so many of us — including what it means to go to school and how we deliver an education,” said Speaker Hortman. “Governor Walz’s decision to continue distance learning until the end of the school year is the right call. This decision highlights the need for the Minnesota Legislature to pass legislation immediately to ensure all school employees continue to get paid through the end of the school year. Our teachers and hourly school employees have never been more important to our children and families. They deserve economic security and our support — especially during these difficult times.” Continue reading “Extended distance learning increases need to guarantee pay for frontline school employees,”