Tag: Rep. Winkler

Minnesota House to vote on Jobs and Local Projects Bill

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Saturday, the Minnesota House of Representatives will vote on a Jobs and Local Projects Bill. The bill requires a three-fifths majority — 81 votes — to pass.

“All Minnesotans deserve safe and inclusive communities,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Updating our aging infrastructure will help our people, communities, and businesses make it through the COVID-19 crisis and provide jobs with wages and benefits that can support a family. Minnesota needs these investments now more than ever.”

“We know that people are hurting from the impact of COVID-19, and we have an opportunity to help in a way that safely creates statewide economic activity,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “Investing in jobs and local projects now will quicken our economic recovery and help Minnesotans thrive for generations. Republicans need to join us in passing a robust jobs and local projects bill.” Continue reading “Minnesota House to vote on Jobs and Local Projects Bill”

Representatives Hassan, Noor, and Majority Leader Winkler to host Iftar over Zoom on May 20

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — State Representatives Hodan Hassan, Mohamud Noor, and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler will hold an Iftar over Zoom on Wednesday, May 20 at 8:30 pm.

The event will include an explanation of the meaning of Ramadan, showcase Muslim organizations that continue to do amazing work for Minnesotans of all ages in spite of the circumstances, and breaking the daily fast together. Attendees will have the option of showcasing their meal.

“Ramadan is the month of spiritual gains and family togetherness,” said Rep. Hassan. “We normally spend this month with family, friends, and neighbors to break bread with and to come together as one community. Because of Covid-19 we can’t physically get together, but we can connect virtually to continue the tradition of togetherness.” Continue reading “Representatives Hassan, Noor, and Majority Leader Winkler to host Iftar over Zoom on May 20”

Minnesota House Leadership Statement on Transit Safety Provisions in the Transportation Policy Bill

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On May 14, the Minnesota House of Representatives tabled a transportation policy bill that included transit safety provisions. House Speaker Melissa Hortman, House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, and Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL – Shakopee) released the following statements:

“Transit safety is important to Minnesotans, and we remain committed to addressing this issue,” said Speaker Hortman. “When we placed the bill on the calendar for today, we believed there was an agreement with Republicans on language to address this issue. We are continuing to work to reach an agreement so this provision will become law.”

“The Minnesota House fully intends to take up transit safety legislation,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “As we near the end of the Legislative Session, we are prioritizing areas where we can reach agreement with the Senate and get critical work done for Minnesotans — including transportation investments and transit safety.”

“This is the time to pass transit safety measures so that when the COVID pandemic ends, Minnesotans will come back to a transit system that is more safe and secure,” said Rep. Brad Tabke. “I remain hopeful we can reach a bipartisan agreement to pass legislation before the end of session to benefit both suburban and metro riders.”

 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on extended peacetime emergency, new Stay Safe order

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Last night, Governor Walz announced a 30 day extension of the peacetime emergency and that he will allow his Stay at Home order to expire on May 18. The Stay at Home order is being replaced by a new order encouraging Minnesotans to stay close to home but allows for gatherings of friends and family of 10 people or less. Retail businesses will be allowed to resume at 50 percent capacity if they have a social distancing plan, but restaurants, bars, gyms, salons and other venues that attract large crowds will remain closed until June 1.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements: Continue reading “Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on extended peacetime emergency, new Stay Safe order”

Minnesota House establishes Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced the formation of a Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding. The Select Committee will review the federal and state responses to the COVID19 pandemic to date and will assess policy changes needed moving forward.

“COVID-19 may reshape Minnesota for years to come, and the public policy challenges it presents are enormous,” said Speaker Hortman. “We are forming this Select Committee to take a deep-dive on these policy challenges as we work to respond to this pandemic and to rebuild Minnesota as a better and stronger state.”

The Select Committee will take a closer look at the pandemic’s impact on Minnesotans, what the state and federal government have done so far to respond, and possible future responses, including ensuring workplace safety and protecting workers’ rights, and broader societal changes — for example, ways education might be changed in the fall due to COVID-19. Continue reading “Minnesota House establishes Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding”

Minnesota House expected to ratify state employee contracts

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to ratify state employee contracts. Approximately 50,000 state employees are covered under these contracts, and the contracts are currently in effect.

“Our state employees provide essential services for the people of Minnesota — including critical work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The Legislature should ratify these contracts, which were negotiated in good faith and that have been in place for months. The Legislature gets an up or down vote, and does not have a role in negotiating different terms. A no vote or a failure to act by the House and Senate means pay cuts and chaos for state employee health insurance benefits. There will be a time to deal with the state budget deficit in the future, and decisions may be made that impact future state employee contracts. State employees and the Administration have fairly negotiated these contracts, and they should be approved.”

“We owe it to those who keep our state running — including during a pandemic — to follow through on our promises to them and their families,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “During this economic crisis, we should protect these essential services and the basic economic security of the people we’re asking to step in to serve all of us.” Continue reading “Minnesota House expected to ratify state employee contracts”

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.”