Tag: Minnesota House

Statement from House & Senate Transportation Chairs on VTRS Contract

Minnesota State Capitol

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Chairmen of the Transportation Committees at the Minnesota Legislature applauded last week’s announcement of a signed contract with a vendor to oversee the state’s new Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS). The contract is with Fast Enterprises (FAST) and will replace Minnesota’s Vehicle Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS).

Representative Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), Chair of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee stated:

“Minnesotans deserve a licensing system that works, and they expect it to be fixed when it doesn’t work. I commend Governor Walz and the Legislature for working together to find a bipartisan solution to improve accountability and efficiency for the people of Minnesota.”

Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), Chair of the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee stated:

“VTRS is good for Minnesota. We look forward to hearing the details of the contract in the coming weeks at a public legislative oversight committee hearing.”

Minnesota House DFLers Celebrate the First Day of Summer

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House DFLers and fellow Minnesotans are celebrating the first day of summer. As another beautiful season begins here in Minnesota, Democrats are also celebrating the passage of legislation that will preserve our state’s natural resources and expand access to the great outdoors.

“Minnesota’s abundant natural resources contribute to our state’s vitality and quality of life,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “It’s our responsibility to preserve our clean air, land, and water for generations to come.”

Many Minnesotans will spend time swimming, fishing, or boating at one of our states’ many lakes this summer. House DFLers successfully fought to protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers during the 2019 legislative session. The two-year state budget that legislators approved in late May makes historic investments to combat the spread of aquatic invasive species. Continue reading “Minnesota House DFLers Celebrate the First Day of Summer”

Minnesota House DFLers Celebrate PRIDE; Reaffirm Commitment to Conversion Therapy Ban Legislation

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Heading into PRIDE weekend in the Twin Cities, House DFLers released the following statements in support of Minnesota’s LGBTQ community:

“All Minnesotans deserve to be safe and live with dignity, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “House DFLers will continue working to promote equality and inclusion in all areas of Minnesota law.”

“Republicans blocked a ban on gay conversion therapy this year, but DFLers will keep fighting to end this harmful practice,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “We must continue working together to root out intolerance wherever we find it.”

“Conversion therapy is harmful, and has no place in legitimate healthcare in Minnesota,” said Representative Hunter Cantrell. “Despite the Senate stopping this extremely important bill last session, we will continue to work to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults so that only the highest standard of credible mental healthcare is offered to patients in Minnesota.”

Majority Leader Winkler and Rep. Cantrell will join advocates at a closed-press roundtable on banning conversion therapy and other issues affecting LGBTQ Minnesotans later today. A ban on gay conversion therapy passed 72-53 earlier this year as part of the House Health & Human Services Omnibus bill. The measure failed as an amendment in the Republican-led Senate.

 

Minnesota House approves new Health and Human Services Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Early Saturday morning, the Minnesota House approved the final, bipartisan compromise version of the Omnibus Health and Human Services budget that protects health care for Minnesotans, including the funding for 1.2 million people’s health care.

“House DFLers have worked all session to ensure all Minnesotans can get the health care they need for a price they can afford. This budget protects health care for more than a million Minnesotans,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Division. “Senate Republicans blocked very important initiatives to strengthen health care in Minnesota, including provisions to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. I remain committed to solutions to decrease cost, increase access, and improve the health of Minnesotans.”

Facing a June 30, 2019 sunset, House DFLers were successful in maintaining the funding stream for the state’s Health Care Access Fund. This revenue – a tax on health care services enacted 27 years ago – has funded MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance, and other health programs. House DFLers were also successful in maintaining dental and vision coverage for low-income Minnesotans, and the budget makes the first increase in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) in 33 years. Continue reading “Minnesota House approves new Health and Human Services Budget”

House Passes Bipartisan Tax Bill

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House today passed a bipartisan tax bill that includes House DFL measures to maintain funding for the Health Care Access Fund, double the standard deduction, cut taxes for working families and Social Security recipients, increase Local Government Aid, and cut property taxes for farmers and small businesses. The bill will bring Minnesota into federal tax conformity.

“This tax bill provides significant tax cuts for hard working Minnesotans who struggle to raise a family, pick up their prescriptions, pay off student loans, make the property tax payment, or afford the basic necessities that allow them to thrive,” said Tax Committee Chair Paul Marquart (DFL – Dilworth). “This bipartisan compromise creates a fairer tax system that invests in families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses.”

The tax bill cuts income tax rates for the first time in two decades and doubles the standard deduction to $24,400. These provisions will cut taxes for lower- and middle-income earners while greatly simplifying the tax filing process. About 93% of Minnesota taxpayers will now take the standard deduction that will result in a 7% tax cut for the median family income. Continue reading “House Passes Bipartisan Tax Bill”

Minnesota House Approves cCompromise Public Safety and Judiciary Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House approved the final version of the Omnibus Public Safety and Judiciary Finance bill early Saturday morning. The budget includes $125 million in new investments in the courts, correctional facilities, criminal apprehension, human rights protections and many other areas to keep Minnesotans safe and ensure they have access to justice.

Unfortunately, Senate Republicans blocked a pair of initiatives to curb senseless gun violence this session. Despite the support of as many as 90 percent of Minnesotans, Republicans refused to establish “red flag” laws and expand criminal background checks for firearm purchases. House DFLers remain committed to preventing gun violence and keeping Minnesotans safe at school, at work, while worshiping, or anywhere else in their communities.

“This session, through a community-centered lens, we’ve heard from many Minnesotans about the impact of our criminal justice system, and have highlighted numerous ways in which we can reimagine public safety in our state. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface in these efforts,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani, Chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division. “There’s still a great deal of work to do, especially regarding senseless gun violence, the need to decriminalize poverty and fixing the flaws in our probation system. The work on these and other issues is not over as we build a safer, more just state.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Approves cCompromise Public Safety and Judiciary Budget”

Minnesota House Approves New Budget for Transportation

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Yesterday, the Minnesota House approved a new Transportation budget.

“Senate Republicans blocked revenue to fund transportation projects, which would have delivered sustainable, dedicated and long-term funding to build a modern transportation system that people and employers are asking for,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis), Chair of the House Transportation Finance Committee.

“This bill maintains the status quo in a time when transportation investments are desperately needed. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that transportation is about people. It’s about these workers and their families. It’s about Minnesotans getting to their jobs, school, and families safely and efficiently on modern roads and transit systems built for the 21st century. We have more work to do for the people of Minnesota.”

Republicans blocked any proposals to raise new constitutionally dedicated funding for our roads and bridges, and the needed funding for transit. As a result, Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure will continue to deteriorate. The American Society of Civil Engineers rated Minnesota’s roads as, “D+” on their most recent infrastructure report card. Bridges received a “C” and transit was awarded a “C-.”

House Democrats fought for permanent, sustainable, on-going, and dedicated funding for transportation that meets the needs of a growing state. Strong investments in transit remain a priority for the House DFL, despite Republican’s firm opposition to any increased revenue for transportation.

The bill can be found here and the spreadsheet can be found here.

House HHS Finance Division to hold public hearing on compromise budget package

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Friday at 8:30 a.m., the House Health and Human Services Finance Division will hold a public hearing to provide an informational overview of the Special Session Omnibus HHS Finance Bill. Non-partisan staff will review the contents of the bill’s articles and corresponding spreadsheets.

The hearing will take place in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The bill and spreadsheet will be made available on the committee webpage here. A video livestream of the hearing is available here.

 

Minnesota House Approves Measure to Deliver Financial Relief to Argosy Students on a 125-0 Vote

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to help Argosy University Twin Cities campus students recover financially from the college’s recent abrupt closure.

Representative Connie Bernardy (DFL-New Brighton), Chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Division, is the chief author of the bill. The legislation approved today will give the Office of Higher Education (OHE) the authority to release Argosy students from liability for any Minnesota SELF student loans for the spring 2019 semester, and pay them directly for other state financial aid.

“I’m pleased we were able to come together on a bipartisan, bicameral level to deliver this financial relief to Argosy students who were working hard to earn a degree,” Rep. Bernardy remarked. Continue reading “Minnesota House Approves Measure to Deliver Financial Relief to Argosy Students on a 125-0 Vote”

Minnesota House unanimously approves Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Forc

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House today unanimously approved Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein’s bill to create a state task force to address the endemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Minnesota (H.F.70). Families impacted by historic violence shared heartbreaking personal stories in committees throughout session. There is currently no state or national system in place to collect data on missing and murdered Native women in Minnesota.

“Behind every missing or murdered Indigenous woman is a family and a community that have fought for action,” said Rep. Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton). “Today we mourn the women we’ve lost, but we have renewed hope that no one will have to wonder if their daughters, their sisters, their mothers and loved ones will come home when they walk out the door.”

If approved by the Senate, the task force will provide data and analysis of the systemic causes behind the number of missing Native American women in the state. The goal of the task force will be to better understand the causes of violence against Indigenous women and to reduce and prevent violence where it is happening. The task force will include members of the indigenous community, law enforcement, policymakers and the public. Continue reading “Minnesota House unanimously approves Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Forc”