Tag: Sen. Newton

Deadlines 

Today marks the second deadline at the Legislature, which requires committees to act favorably on bills or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other body. It is just the latest sign that we are moving quickly through the session, and brings us closer to creating a responsible and balanced budget. With our legislative recess coming at the end of next week, we are officially at the halfway point through the 2021 Legislative Session.

Our third deadline comes on April 9, by which point we will need to pass major finance and appropriation bills. These are the bills that fund the core areas of our budget – like education, health and human services, and transportation. The pace of our work will only pick up, as we get this budget together before our adjournment in May.  While we still have a ways to go, I remain optimistic that my colleagues and I will come together to make sure the final budget we pass reflects our values and is focused on helping Minnesotans get through this pandemic and recover.

Budget 

Minnesota’s economic outlook has come a long way since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when state economists forecast major budget deficits for the state. Thankfully, through our progress against this virus, and thanks to state and federal aid, our economic outlook continues to improve.

We will also be receiving an influx of additional aid thanks to the latest federal relief bill, which will deliver approximately $4.9 billion in funding for COVID-19 related expenses. This aid will be a major boost at the local, county, and state level. However, it is largely one-time funding that can only be used for COVID-19 related expenses. We must make sure this aid, as well as the final budget we create is focused on helping those that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

Following a significant change in the state’s fiscal outlook in the February 2021 budget forecast, Governor Walz has released a revised budget proposal. While this is only a proposal, and does not take into account the latest federal aid, it does give guidance to the Legislature on where his priorities are. It is only a proposal, and it is up to us in the Senate and the House to do the work of creating the actual budget for the state.

Vaccines now available to all VA-enrolled Veterans

If you are a veteran, please enroll with the VA and get your vaccine.  If you know a veteran, please share this information with them.

If you have any questions or wish to unsubscribe from this Newsletter please feel free to contact my office at 651-296-2556 or by email at sen.jerry.newton@senate.mn. 

Thank you and have a great weekend, 

Jerry Newton 
State Senator 
District 37

Budget Update 

Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) officials released their February 2021 Budget and Economic Forecast yesterday, and it showed good news. They are projecting a positive budget balance of $1.6 billion for the next biennium. Minnesota’s budget outlook is significantly better for this biennium and the next due to an improved U.S. economic outlook that is bolstered by federal actions that have emerged since November and were not incorporated in earlier projections.

Now that we know what the financial climate of the state will look like for the next two years, it is now up to the Legislature to craft a balanced and responsible budget. The forecast shows a cautiously hopeful picture for our state, but we also know this recovery has not been felt equally for Minnesotans. We must create a budget that ensures a fair recovery that helps those who have been most affected by the pandemic and one that strengthens our communities. 

More information is available here: https://mn.gov/mmb/mmbhome/?id=1059-469530.

Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: September 27, 2021”

Friends and Neighbors,

Representative Erin Koegel and I are holding a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. We hope you can join us to share your ideas and priorities for the legislative session. The town hall will be held on Zoom.  If you would like to participate in the Zoom portion, click here to RSVP and submit a question. 

Minnesota launches the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector 

A new tool launched this week will help Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Current eligibility for vaccines is still limited to Minnesotans over 65, health care workers, long-term care residents, childcare, and K-12 personnel, but the Vaccine Connector will be a helpful way to notify other Minnesotans once it’s their turn to get a shot and connect them to resources to schedule an appointment.

Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: February 19, 2021”

Vaccines

The Minneapolis VA has expanded vaccine appointments for this weekend (January 23 & 24), Veterans who are eligible for VA Health Care and are 75 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER who have not already scheduled COVID vaccine appointments should call (612) 467-1100 or toll free at 1-866-414-5058 to schedule their first appointment for this weekend.

The VA is offering vaccines only to eligible enrolled Veterans in current priority groups. It will continue to expand the list of eligible enrolled Veterans who are actively invited to schedule appointments. 

Enrolled Veterans who do not meet current criteria are strongly encouraged to document their interests in being vaccinated at the VA medical center.

Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: January 22, 2021”

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The 2021 Legislative Session began Tuesday, January 5 with the swearing-in of the 67 new and returning members of the Minnesota State Senate, including Senator Jerry Newton (DFL-Coon Rapids) who will be returning for his second term. 

“I am honored to be returning to the senate to continue to serve the people of Senate District 37 as we get to work addressing the issues and challenges facing Minnesotans throughout the state,” said Senator Newton. “Over the next few months, I look forward to working with my colleagues in addressing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, passing a fair and balanced budget, and ensuring a strong economic recovery for all Minnesotans.”

Senator Newton will be serving as the DFL-Lead on the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee, as well as on the Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee. Senator Newton will also continue to serve as Chair of the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission and as a member on the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.

Budget Forecast 

Earlier this week, Minnesota Management and Budget announced the November budget forecast, which projected a positive budget balance of $641 million for the 2020-21 biennium. The forecast also projects a $1.237 billion shortfall for 2022-23. I believe the 2022-23 forecast is a bit understated because inflation is not considered. Automatic increases were built into prior legislation for future years, and the projected shortfall may be closer to $2.5 billion. It is important to remember that this is only a forecast and like the last one could be significantly different when we actually get to 2022.

The budget surplus can mostly be attributed to two simple factors. Minnesotans are spending more than expected, and state spending is way down. Although lower-income families have been hit harder, total income for Minnesotans did not decline as much as previously anticipated. Federal unemployment assistance helped keep sales tax and income tax receipts high as well. State spending is projected to be $1 billion less than anticipated this year. This can be attributed to fewer people using health care services, federal funding for Medical Assistance increasing, and public-school enrollment falling by nearly 13,000 pupils.

Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: December 4, 2020”

Dear Friends,

This year has been one of the most challenging in our state’s entire history. Our world was turned upside down by the arrival of COVID-19, a health care challenge that continues to put lives at risk while having already claimed the lives of over 1,400 Minnesotans. The effects of the pandemic has resulted in the closure of thousands of businesses throughout our state, forcing hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans out of work.

In the midst of this pandemic, we also witnessed the horrific murder of George Floyd. His death saw tens of thousands of protesters and demonstrators taking to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The sickening scene recorded on camera outraged me and has resulted in many calls and e-mails for police reform. I will deal with that issue head on, while knowing full well that what happened in Minneapolis is not indicative of the attitudes and practices of all police officers or police departments. In 26 years as an elected official, I have never once heard a complaint about our local police. So, as a legislature we need to act now to send a clear message that we will not tolerate racial injustice; however, we must not make one-size-fits-all laws regarding police and judicial reform. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: July 15, 2020”

2020 Special Session

The closing of the special session without completing all of the major work Minnesotans expected us to accomplish is extremely disappointing. We failed to pass a bonding bill that would have guaranteed jobs and made much needed improvements to our state’s infrastructure. We didn’t reach a compromise on long overdue law enforcement reforms. Also, no CARES bill was agreed upon that would have provided needed funding for cities and counties dealing with the COVID crisis. This session was quite possibly the worst I have seen in 26 years of serving my community.

There is no use pointing fingers. There is more than enough blame to go around. We need to regroup as a legislature and continue to work on compromises that will move our state forward. We as legislators should not wait until the next special session to get back to work. This is the time to work things out now through zoom legislative meetings and in person meetings of the leaders in the House, Senate, and Governor’s Office.

Youth and Adult Sports Guidance

Recently the MN Department of Health announced new guidance recommending that youth sports games and scrimmages will resume June 24th or later for outdoor sports, and July 1st or later for indoor sports. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: June 23, 2020”