Tag: Sen. Hoffman

WEEK Ten: Friday, Mar. 15

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It was a long week at the Legislature especially due to the fact the first deadlines were Friday. Many hearings ran long as we did our best to give important bills time to be discussed and considered for potential advancement. After this week, we will know which bills will move forward or have stopped moving for the year. Just because we didn’t make a deadline doesn’t mean the bill stops. There will be more opportunities to have amendment discussions and to search for other vehicles to move our bills.  Below is a link to see what I’ve been working on thus far.

My list of Bills

You are always welcome to give me feedback and let me know what matters to you. I hope this information is useful to you, stay safe and warm out there and expect another update next week. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 15, 2019”

WEEK Nine: Friday, Mar. 8

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The pace at the legislature ever increases and we passed two bills that went to the Governor this week. Our first deadline nears and I am providing another link to my bills and where they stand below:

My list of Bills

As always give me feedback and let me know what matters to you. I would also like to take a moment to recognize International Women’s Day. I know the two most important women in my life are my wife Yvette and my daughter Hope. They make me a better man everyday.Take this day to celebrate all the wonderful women in your life, look for another update next week, and stay safe and warm out there!

Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 8, 2019”

WEEK Eight: Friday, March 1st

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are now within three weeks of our first deadline for bills that are in motion. There are a myriad of bills I’m working on for our senate district and the great state of Minnesota ranging from bonding projects for our roads and parks to enhancing the healthcare of our most vulnerable populations. If you’d like to see what I’ve authored or co-authored specifically I’m going to provide a link below so you can see exactly what has been crafted and where it sits now.

My list of Bills

Send me your thoughts and ideas and let me know what you think. Session will only pick up pace from here on out and more work is coming my way. Look for another update next week, and stay safe out there in this weather. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 1, 2019”

WEEK Seven: Friday, Feb. 22

Hello Neighbors and Friends:

Welcome to week seven of our 2019 session.  I want to start off this update with an article and discussion about how climate change poses profound risks to our communities not just in the future but right now. Extreme weather events are increasing, and our climate is changing. What can we can to transition as quickly as possible to more renewable energy and reducing our carbon emissions?

Minnesota is leading the country in our efforts, but we must also be realistic as to how we achieve clean energy without jeopardizing cost and reliability. In 2007, Minnesota Republicans and DFLers joined together on the Next Generation Energy Act and adopted a goal to hit the 80 percent reduction by 2050.

It’s great that Minnesota has already hit its renewable electricity standard goal of 25 percent by 2025 this year by using wind, solar, biomass, and hydro power. We’re also on course to reach its current solar electricity standard of 1.5 percent by the end of 2020. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 22, 2019”

WEEK SIX:  February 15, 2019

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Minnesota is facing a $6 billion statewide transportation funding gap. Unfortunately, the legislature hasn’t been able to pass a viable long-term transportation funding plan to address this growing deficit. To make matters worse, if we don’t find a solution, more than 70 percent of currently projected future spending will need to go toward road preservation rather than improving our infrastructure.

Right now, more than half of Minnesota’s roads are more than 50 years old, and 40 percent of the state’s bridges are more than 40 years old. In just the next three years alone, one in five Minnesota roads will pass their useful life. And in the next ten years, nearly 40 percent of our roads will be past their useful life.

Poor roads cost Minnesota motorists $1.2 billion every year in extra vehicle repairs, and Minnesota businesses spend an extra $232 million each year on additional freight transportation costs caused by traffic congestion. In addition, the average Minnesota commuter wastes 34 hours stuck in traffic every year. If no additional investments are made in our transportation systems, by 2025 the average Minnesota commuter will waste an estimated 45 hours stuck in traffic. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 15, 2019”

WEEK Five: Friday, Feb. 8

Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well despite all the snow and ice midweek. Week five of the Legislative Session has shown an increase in the pace of activity. More bills are being heard and discussed including several of my own addressing how we handle complex medical care. Early in the week I carried a bill through committee that would make grant money available for a parent to parent program that connects those with children afflicted by complex medical conditions. The additional support of a parent with experience in handling our complex medical system as well as an understanding ear drastically reduces stress and improves outcomes. At the end of the week I stood once more for a bill that would ensure communication between providers when a child with a complicated medical diagnosis is discharged from a hospital. This cuts down on accidental redundancies and risks due to a lack of communication between those administering medical care.

Together we make Minnesota better one step at a time. I look forward to next week and thank you for trusting me to take on your needs at the Capitol. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 8, 2019”

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to Week Four of the session.  What a way to usher in the end of January with the extreme cold to our state, shutting down a lot of businesses, schools and even senate committee hearings. While the polar vortex affected us all I know we Minnesotans are strong people and I hope everyone managed to stay warm. Some even braved the weather to rally in the capitol rotunda as well as visiting me in my office. That polar vortex didn’t stop the courageous souls below from paying me a visit! I am humbled.

In the Senate

Financial lifeline for furloughed workers

A press conference last week focused on legislation to provide financial relief for thousands of Minnesotans forced to live without paychecks due to the government shutdown. The introduced legislation would provide short term, no-interest loans for affected workers.

Under the terms of the bill, banks and other financial institutions can apply to the commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to issue the zero-interest loans, and Minnesota would guarantee the loans. The loans would be worth up to $5,000 and the program would cease to issue loans the day after the federal shutdown ends. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 2, 2019”

 

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

As week three of the 2019 legislative session comes to a close, there have been a lot of new bills introduced from the rising costs of insulin to paid family leave for all Minnesotans to enhancing the teacher student relationships of those who need it most. As we look onto the beginning of week Four we are met with a Minnesota Snow Storm and below zero weather.  I hope you and your family have a safe week. Stay Warm.

2019 Legislature starts hearing bills while a number of press conferences highlight legislation

State offices were closed and committees did not meet so legislators were able to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday on January 21. The week started off with a number of press conferences, including one on paid family and medical leave, reducing the cost of insulin, the opioid epidemic, and gun violence reduction.

Committee work kicked into full gear with the hands-free cellphone bills heard in the Senate and House, an update from the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Prevention working group, Driver Assist Technology in commercial trucks, and stricter penalties for sexual assault. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: January 28, 2019”

This week, Sen. John Hoffman (SD-36) released the following column on the need for leaders of both parties to work in a bipartisan manner to fix Minnesota’s education system. 

Working together to improve our schools

Minnesota is known for our strong schools and great educational system. As a former school board member and long-time advocate for local schools, I’ve been an effective voice at the Capitol for Champlin, Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids schools. But we can’t sit on our past successes; we can and will do better. 

We can find common ground by passing bipartisan legislation to make our schools safer through security upgrades, provide more funding for mental health support, address our special education deficiencies, look at creative ways to fund early childhood education, provide better paths for students in vocational/career technical training, and address reading proficiency.  Continue reading “Senator John Hoffman’s column on DFL and MNGOP leaders needing to work together to improve Minnesota schools”