June 30, 2021
Upcoming SD 48 Town Hall
Mark your calendars! This coming Tuesday, July 6, my house colleagues and I will be hosting a virtual town hall meeting from 9:30 – 10:30am.
You can RSVP in advance at the event page by clicking HERE, and you can ask us questions in advance by clicking HERE.
You will be able to watch live or view a recording from any of our Facebook pages. Mine can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: July 2, 2021”
June 18, 2021
Finishing Up the Budget
The legislature convened for a special session on Monday, as we continue to work out the details of Minnesota’s budget. It was great to see so many of my colleagues’ faces after over a year of masked gatherings and zoom meetings. Rep. Laurie Pryor, Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn, and I posed for a photo in front of the capitol to commemorate the occasion. Now it’s time to wrap this session up with a budget that works for all Minnesotans.
A Reopened and Reinvigorated State Capitol
The state capitol is officially reopened to the public! We’ve already seen several groups make use of this amazing space to exercise their civic duty. On Monday, VFW advocates were here to make their voices heard, along with a couple of large demonstrations as well.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: June 18, 2021”May 21, 2021
Legislative Session Ends with Compromise on Budget
The 2021 legislative session ended on Monday with an agreement reached on spending for the next biennium. Policy details still need to be finalized for a special session, but there were some major wins for the people of Minnesota in the agreement:
This agreement on spending is another sign that we can all work together for the good of Minnesotans.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: May 21, 2021”May 14, 2021
Legislative Session Nears Its End, Special Session Possible
The end of the legislative session is right around the corner, and many areas of disagreement still remain. Some of the main areas I am most focused on reaching a compromise are:
A special session to finish the budget is looking increasingly likely. Know that you can count on my support for passing a budget that works for all Minnesotans.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: May 14, 2021”
COVID Precautions Begin to Wind Down
On Thursday, May 6th, Governor Walz held a press conference announcing the timeline to end COVID-19 restrictions in Minnesota. This includes ending nearly all state restrictions by May 28th, and ending the statewide mask mandate by July 1st, or when we reach the 70% vaccination threshold for those 16 and older.
This is great news! Hugs, handshakes, and regular human interaction are all on the horizon! I’m excited to see many of you in person again. You can watch my weekly video on this subject by clicking HERE.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: May 7, 2021”April 30, 2021
On Monday this week we debated the Senate State Government and Elections omnibus bill. Included is the implementation of provisional balloting, restrictions on early voting, and a ban on localities being able to choose ranked choice voting. This type of voter suppression legislation runs contrary to our values as Minnesotans. Because of this, I voted against the bill.
We have to be vigilant in protecting our freedom to vote. On Monday, the Senate will once again be debating Voter ID. It is disheartening to see these continued attempts to make it harder for Minnesotans to exercise their civic duty. It will be a vibrant discussion, and I know that we will prevent this from becoming law.
Minnesota routinely leads the country in voter turnout because we trust that our elections are fair. What we should be doing is expanding the freedom to vote. We should be making it more convenient to vote, engaging more voters in the democratic process, and providing sufficient resources to our local election officials. Let’s keep working, and keep trying to increase voter participation until we reach that magical 100%.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: April 30, 2021”
Increasing Our Trust in Policing
This week, Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. The tension around this and the uncertainty of what the verdict would bring shows just how much work we have left to do. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that the arc of the moral universe is a long one, and that it does bend towards justice. We are on that arc, but we still have more work to do.
In the past year, hundreds of you have engaged in the political process, asking the legislature to make fundamental changes to the way our state does policing. Some of your ideas have been:
There have been many others as well, and I want you to know that you can count on my support. This is about restoring trust in our policing, and I know we will be all the better for it.
A Unique Experience with Hennepin County EMS
Coincidentally, I had a planned ride along with Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that occurred just after the verdict was announced. It was the experience of a lifetime. Not only did I get to learn about the work they do, but I also got to witness countless reactions to the verdict’s announcement. On peoples’ faces I saw sadness, hope, relief, and a wide range of other emotions. I was also accompanied by a member of the national guard, and I deeply appreciate his service.
This week I also met with:
I also heard from a lot of you by phone and email this week. Police reform was by far the biggest subject. Some other subjects include:
Standing Up for Transgender Youth and Fully Funded Public Education
One of the hardest parts for me during floor debate this week was during the education omnibus bill. The legislation contains language that bans students assigned as male at birth from competing in women’s sports, and vice versa. This was done as more and more of our youth are feeling comfortable coming out as transgender. As adults, we have a choice. We can either show them compassion or show them the same bullying that they have had to live with ever since coming out. My DFL colleagues and I offered an amendment to show them compassion and remove this harmful language, but unfortunately it was voted down. You can view my speech during this debate by clicking HERE.
Also related to the education bill, many school districts across the state announced layoffs this week, and my heart sank. Fully funding public education is not only the legislature’s constitutional duty, but it is also a moral imperative. The Senate Education bill lacked any increase in the state funding formula to even keep pace with inflation.
For these two reasons, I voted against the bill.
As I have in the past, I also offered an amendment to require all high schoolers to take a course in American Government during their junior or senior year. You can view my floor speech on this by clicking HERE.
It was a long week on the Senate floor, filled with vibrant discussions and interesting conversation. Though I disagreed with much of what the GOP majority put forth in their budget bills, I still appreciated every moment of spirited debate.
Recapping an Emotional Week
This has been an incredibly emotional week for all of us. Between the Chauvin verdict, continuing tensions between law enforcement and demonstrators in the wake Daunte Wright’s shooting, the passing of Walter Mondale, and some of the emotionally charged debates on the senate floor, it is understandable to be feeling exhausted. Take care of yourself, and know that our work continues. You can view my weekly video on this subject by clicking HERE.
April 16, 2021
Policing Reform, Veterans Justice, and the Senate Judiciary Bill
In the aftermath of the death of Daunte Wright at the hands of law enforcement, and during the trial of Derek Chauvin, our state took up the Senate omnibus judiciary bill. Unfortunately, the bill lacked any fundamental reforms to our policing that could prevent future tragedies. A sad moment for me was when an amendment failed along party lines which would have prohibited law enforcement officers from affiliating with white supremacist organizations.
Additionally, amendments to create a task force on missing and murdered indigenous Minnesotans and to close loopholes in our hate crime laws also failed.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: April 16, 2021”
April 9. 2021
Important Notice About Emails
Late yesterday evening my colleagues and I were informed of a glitch with the Senate website that caused some emails to not go through between 8:30am on Friday, April 2 and 1pm on Thursday, April 8. The issue is now resolved, but the messages may not be retrievable. If you reached out during that time and did not receive a reply, please resend your message. I deeply apologize for the inconvenience.
Controversial Education Bill Moves Forward
On Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee we voted on this year’s omnibus education bill. I was disappointed to see vouchers included in this bill, as well as a lack of investment in the basic funding formula. Per-pupil state aid adjusted to inflation has failed to keep up with our need for almost the past 20 years. There was also a provision that discriminates against transgender students, and I cannot support that.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: April 9, 2021”March 26, 2021
Vaccine Availability
Governor Walz announced today that all Minnesotans age 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination beginning Tuesday, March 30. This is great news, as this comes over one month ahead of schedule.
If you have not already, please sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to get updates on vaccine opportunities near you. You can also contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or use the Vaccine Locator Map to search for vaccine providers in your area.
Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: March 26, 2021”