Tag: SD46

Senator Ron Latz comments on justice for George Floyd

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Senator Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, DFL Lead on the Senate Judiciary & Public Safety Committee, released the following statement in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

“Let’s call this what it is. George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officers. The first step is to hold all of the officers who were involved in the murder accountable for their actions. I am confident in my friend and colleague, Attorney General Keith Ellison, to prosecute this murder to the fullest.

“While we look to hold these police officers accountable for their actions, the protests carried out in memory of George Floyd by our communities of color and allies are the result of hundreds of years of institutional and systemic racism. I support peaceful protests and I will be working hard on policy and resources to create systemic change. Continue reading “Senator Ron Latz comments on justice for George Floyd”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD49) Update: April 6, 2020

Capitol Update: COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Information

Good afternoon,

Included in this April 6 Capitol Update, you will find information from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) on Unemployment Insurance (UI). Given the unprecedented number of new applicants, several weeks ago DEED made the difficult decision to alter their phone schedule to prioritize application calls and password reset calls. That meant that some people who needed to talk with DEED had to wait. However, this week, DEED will resume taking calls from a broader set of customers, including those who have questions about their account or payment status.

Below is a table that provides the best time to call DEED’s customer service line and the relevant contact information for doing so.

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Twin Cities area: 651-296-3644
Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090
TTY – users: 1-866-814-1252 Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD49) Update: April 6, 2020”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 27, 2020

CAPITOL UPDATE MARCH 27, 2020: LEGISLATION IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19

In the past few days, the Minnesota Legislature and the United States Congress passed legislation to aid Minnesotans and Americans in this time of need. Below you will find information to what is included in the state government spending package. Although the Minnesota Legislature did not address funding for workers on the front lines like school hourly workers and first responders, I am working hard along with my colleagues to support them in the coming future. I expect the Senate and House will come back, in conjunction with the Governor, to support workers and businesses across our state in the coming weeks.

On a more personal note, please be sure to stay safe during this time. Do not take this lightly. Stay at home if you possibly can, and if you have to go out, keep your distance. Wash your hands and don’t touch your face! The virus is highly likely to enter you through your eyes, nose and mouth – keep your hands away. And support each other. We will come through this.

Ron Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 27, 2020”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 16, 2020

Senator Ron Latz COVID-19 Capitol Update: Morning, March 16, 2020

We are certainly in unchartered waters and are operating in uncertain times. There is much to cover around the coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19. Included in this brief Capitol Update, you will find many informational resources that will be helpful in establishing best practices and will be of help as we navigate how to mitigate its spread. Please refer to the number of informational links below that provide, among other things, situational updates, health recommendations, school protocols, workforce questions and concerns, and relevant contact information.

I will keep this update short as I do not intend to inundate everyone with a lengthy message about COVID-19. As I stated, please refer to the attachments listed below as they will most accurately depict the current state of affairs and will be updated with the most recent information on a regular basis.

Regarding Senate business, late last evening the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives jointly decided to put regular session activities on hold until April 14. Considering the CDC’s new guidelines that strongly suggest we cancel gatherings of 50 or more people, cancelling Senate floor sessions that incorporates 67 members and House floor sessions with 134 members, is the logical next step. Additionally, the committee schedule has been largely cancelled and members of both chambers will not be taking in-person meetings. Although I am disappointed that we will most likely have to put a hold on addressing many of the important issues this year at the Capitol for now, mitigating the spread of the virus is most important. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 16, 2020”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 10, 2020

CAPITOL UPDATE: MORNING OF MARCH 10, 2020

Session is in full force as we enter the month of March. In the number of weeks since the beginning of session, the legislature has yet to pass any sort of meaningful legislation. As you will find in this Capitol Update, the DFL-led House has been quick to take up matters that will improve and impact the lives of many in Minnesota. Measures to combat gun violence, two of which I am the Chief Author of in the Senate, passed off of the House floor. The House also passed an insulin bill and a voter privacy bill. All three of these bills are awaiting Senate action. While I am encouraged by the early action of the House, there is much time left to find compromise and pass solutions that work for all Minnesotans.

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Budget

In recent weeks, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released its February forecast, estimating a $1.513 billion budgetary balance. Although this balance is larger than the November 2019 forecast, it is my belief that much of this money will not available for ongoing spending and if spent, would be used for one-time purposes.

The outlook for Minnesota is stable, and this is encouraging. However, there is still a slowdown remaining in the forecast. We need to be cautious with this. The small budgetary improvement will continue into the next biennium and the structural balance is improved, but after accounting for inflation to maintain current service levels into the next biennium, there is little room for additional spending now. We need to be careful to balance any new spending with new revenue in order to protect our economy and the quality of life in Minnesota from any future instability Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 10, 2020”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: February 13, 2020

CAPITOL UPDATE: SESSION 2020 PREVIEW

As we enter the 2020 legislative session, there is much to accomplish before the end of May that could improve the lives of many in Minnesota. It is the second year of the 2019-2020 biennium and I expect the legislature will turn its focus toward policy issues and passing a long-term public works borrowing bill, also known as a bonding bill. Last year, we passed a budget that resulted in compromise on both sides. We further funded our schools, our healthcare programs, and our correctional facilities, among many other important issues. But, much was regrettably left out as well.

In an election year and with a divided legislature, I expect little will come from this legislative session. The legislature is not obligated to pass anything in the back half of the biennium as we already passed a two-year budget last session. It’s unfortunate that the two sides may come out with nothing considering the long list of issues that we need to address. I will be working hard to build coalitions across race, place, and faith as we ensure all Minnesotans have the care that they need, a bright energy future and healthy climate, safe communities and a fair justice system, connected communities, the opportunity to achieve their dreams, and the time to care for themselves and their loved ones.

In my first session newsletter, I will outline a number of issues that many of you will read about in the news in the coming months. There will be many more issues that I will not cover in this update, although they are as equally as important. I look forward to another session representing the folks of Golden Valley, Hopkins, Medicine Lake, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park. It is truly an honor. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: February 13, 2020”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: June 20, 2019

BUDGET RESERVE CORRECTION: JUNE 18, 2019

Last week, I sent out my post-session newsletter to those of you who receive my Senate District 46 Capitol Updates emails. The newsletter included an incorrect explanation of actions taken on our state’s budget reserve. In order to correct the record, I am sending a clarified and more detailed account of our state’s budget reserve that can be found below. I appreciate your patience on the matter.

Budget Reserve

The last time the budget reserve amount was set in statute was in Minnesota Session Laws 2016, Regular Session, Chapter 189. The amount of the budget reserve defined in statute was $1,596,522. Since then, the amount has fluctuated during various points in the accounting cycle as mandated by law (e.g. November forecast transfers of 33% of the positive budget balance, certain cancellations and surpluses that transfer into the reserve, and other one-time uses of the reserve in special law).

At the end of last session, the amount in the reserve was $1.583 billion. At the November 2018 forecast, the budget reserve level grew to $2.074 billion due to (1) $90 million in cancelled funds appropriated for the premium subsidy program being transferred into the reserve, (2) $47 million in surplus funds for the Workers Compensation Assigned Risk Plan being transferred into the reserve, and (3) $354 million being transferred into the reserve based on the requirements of 16a.152 Subd. 1b (b), which mandates a transfer of 33% of the positive unrestricted budget balance ($1.074 billion) projected at the close of the biennium, as measured at the time of November forecast. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: June 20, 2019”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: June 10, 2019

CAPITOL UPDATE: END OF SESSION 2019

It was an honor to serve the Senate District 46 community during the 2019 legislative session. This year, the only divided state Legislature in the United States found a way to strike a compromise aimed at moving our state forward. With Governor Tim Walz at the helm of the executive branch for the first time, a newly-elected and Democratic-controlled House, and a slim Republican-controlled Senate, there was much winning and losing for both sides in the final compromise.

We successfully fought off cuts to programs and crucial services that millions of Minnesotans depend on every day. We also succeeded in furthering investments in E-12 education, higher education and public safety, passed a bill that intends to mitigate the opioid crisis, continued the provider tax at a 1.8% level, and agreed to many other important measures that will assist in moving our state in the right direction. However, I am disheartened by the lack of progress in some areas or even the outright blockade of sound bipartisan bills. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: June 10, 2019”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: May 25, 2019

CAPITOL UPDATE SPECIAL SESSION 2019

Recently, the Legislature adjourned until Tuesday, February 11, 2020. However, much of the Legislature’s 2019 work is yet to be completed. With a $48 billion agreement between the Senate, House, and Governor, a Special Session is happening now. I am confident that the three sides can come together and find a compromise in a timely manner, but that task is often difficult to complete in a divided government.

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Senator Latz thanked a Hmong veteran who served in the U.S. Vietnam War on April 30 during the celebration of the dedication of Hmong Veterans Day. Pictured to the right is Attorney General Keith Ellison and Senator Foung Hawj. We thank all of the Hmong veterans for their brave service to our country.

Included in the agreement that was struck Sunday evening were global budget targets. These global targets are essentially an agreement on the amount of funding each committee receives with some micro-level details, but leaves room for negotiations between the three parties. For example, the Governor and Legislature agreed to remove the Provider Tax sunset and settle at the reduced rate of 1.8% – compared to 2.0% previously – in the Health and Human Services budget. However, other policy provisions and budget items are in the process of being negotiated between the three parties. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: May 25, 2019”

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: April 12, 2019

CAPITOL UPDATE APRIL 12, 2019

As the Minnesota Legislature reached its third deadline on April 12, committees produced packages of budget bills and other policy-related omnibus bills. As the minority lead on the Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, I was very disappointed that a number of important state initiatives, some of which are outlined below, were left out of this particular majority-led caucus budget bill.

The Senate majority caucus has the power to put forth a budget that reflects their priorities. This week, the Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee put forth a budget that would cut funding to our state’s many public safety criminal investigation and prevention programs. A budget is the ultimate moral document because the money that we spend as a state reflects those philosophical and moral priorities. It’s not merely about whether you agree with the Governor. This is a choice by the Senate majority caucus to cut funding for a program that helps our veterans coming back home to prevent domestic violence and save their families as well as themselves. This is a choice by the Senate majority caucus to cut funding for the Department of Corrections that will save the lives of our corrections officers and other offenders living in those facilities, and whether we’ll have the funding to treat offenders so when they go back to their homes and their community, they aren’t reoffending and creating more victims. The budget put forward by the Senate majority is their preferred budget, and I don’t accept it as simply a negotiating ploy. They must do better. If you’d like to see my full committee speech, please click on the YouTube link below. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: April 12, 2019”