Tag: Ron Latz

CAPITOL UPDATE FEBRUARY 4

It’s been more than four weeks and the 2019 legislative session is in full swing. After last year’s session ended unceremoniously, we’ve hit the ground running by renewing efforts to pass a number of bills leftover from 2018. Additionally, I’ve supplemented those bill re-introductions with new agenda items that have arisen since last May. As always, it’s difficult to forecast the many issues that may surface in the coming months and it must be the Legislature’s goal to address those issues head-on. Last year the Legislature was tasked with redefining the state’s tax structure after the federal government overhauled its system of taxation. Although it is unlikely the federal government will assign our state such an alike responsibility this session, it must remain lawmakers’ top priority to find reasonable solutions to those issues as the country’s only state with a divided legislature.

You can watch my first video update of the session below. If you have any questions, please call my office at 651-297-8065 or, if you’re on the Capitol complex, stop by room 2215 in the Minnesota Senate Building. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: February 4, 2019”

2019 PRE-SESSION CAPITOL UPDATE

Dear Neighbors,

I am honored to continue to serve Senate District 46 for the 91st Session of the Minnesota Legislature. As we turn the calendar year and begin 2019, there remains a lot to accomplish this Spring. Since session ended last May, St. Paul has changed. The 2018 election revised the political dynamic in the House of Representatives and brought in Congressman Tim Walz as the state’s newest governor. I am pleased to begin working with the Walz administration and the House as they both appear eager to bring change for the better and a refreshing outlook to Minnesota’s biggest issues.

It was a privilege to work alongside Governor Mark Dayton for eight years. Governor Dayton left behind a legacy that positively impacted many Minnesotans and will continue to do so for years to come. His leadership brought many of Minnesota’s families all-day kindergarten and prekindergarten options. When Governor Dayton began in 2011, Minnesota was facing a state budget deficit of more than $6 billion. Now, 8 years later, Governor Walz will take the oath of office with a state budget projection nearing a $1.54 billion surplus. Although Governor Dayton is leaving the state in solid condition, we must be committed to balancing government spending and tax levels. Minnesota’s finances must be protected from future instability as the state expects a slowdown in economic and state revenue growth.

Continue reading “Sen. Run Latz (SD46) Update: January 11, 2019”

Post Town Hall Message

At our Town Hall meeting on June 5, there were comments made inquiring about my position to support the increase of existing criminal penalties for persons protesting on limited-access freeways, the airport, and transit lines. I appreciate those who raised the issue and commented both in support of and opposition of my position on the bill. A request was made for me to share my rationale with a broader audience.

Because I knew that my vote on this issue would be of interest, I made a point of explaining it on the Senate floor during the discussion preceding the vote. The following link to my floor remarks should provide more detail on my decision to support the bill. That may be found here. Additionally, feel free to watch the Town Hall broadcast on our St. Louis Park cable station, which may be found here. If you would like to only specifically watch our Town Hall discussion on the protest bill, please click here . Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: June 8, 2018”

END OF SESSION UPDATE 2018

Last Sunday evening, the 2018 session came to an end after it reached its May 21 constitutional deadline. Although we addressed a lot of policy needs, much more was left undone, with a failure to make real change and appropriate funding for many of the state’s most pressing issues.

As always, legislators were tasked with addressing new and reoccurring issues. We didn’t know at this time last year that we would have the opportunity to make impactful changes to how our state protects its elders and vulnerable, and we didn’t know the United States Congress and Trump Administration would change the federal tax code. But, after many weeks and much debate, the legislative majority simply didn’t do enough to address those issues. The tax bill tilted heavily toward multinational corporations and the wealthy, while providing little new money for our strapped school districts.  The majority loaded the Supplemental Budget bill with controversial policy that the Governor strongly opposed, including an elder abuse section that the industry wrote so it was missing pro-resident guidelines that would have enacted real protections for our elders against abuse and neglect.  Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: May 26, 2018”

CAPITOL UPDATE MAY 4, 2018

As we approach the May 21 constitutional deadline, the Minnesota Legislature has only a few short weeks to pass a number of items. The Senate recently passed a supplemental budget proposal that unfortunately includes a list of harmful legislation. The plan, proposed by the Republican-led Senate, would weaken collective bargaining rights, instruct teachers on what they are allowed and not allowed to say in their classrooms, and cut funding from many critical services that Minnesotans across the state rely on every day. Minnesotans will now have less than 20 days to review and take part in shaping both the tax and bonding bills. It must be noted that it took 60 days for Senate Republicans to draft and then pass a first draft of their supplemental budget bill.  Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: May 4, 2018”

CAPITOL UPDATE MARCH 29, 2018

Sen. Ron Latz made a statement on the floor last week about the importance of enacting net neutrality protections for Minnesotan consumers and small businesses. 

Gun Violence Prevention

On February 22, 2017, I introduced my criminal background check and gun violence protection order bills to the Minnesota Senate. Now, over one year later, Senate Republicans have yet to schedule a public hearing for either bill, despite the overwhelmingly strong bipartisan statewide calling to do so. Senate Republican leadership continues to assert there are simply too many other issues that need legislative attention. It is true that there are many important and pressing matters that require our attention, but gun violence prevention must be among the highest of priorities. It is simple, now weeks after the Parkland deaths, months after the Las Vegas massacre, years after young children died at Sandy Hook, decades after teenagers perished at Columbine, that we must come together and enact change.  Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 29, 2018”

CAPITOL UPDATE MARCH 16, 2018

Senator Ron Latz conversing with Senate Counsel during Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee

Gun Violence

Last week, I introduced SF 2959, which would raise the minimum age to purchase or possess semiautomatic assault weapons from 18 to 21. It is common practice to set legal ages for activities that require maturity such as voting, driving, and drinking alcohol. Purchasing and possessing a military-style assault weapon, a weapon designed for war, should require the same, if not greater, ability to act responsibly. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 17, 2018”