Tag: Tim Walz

Hundreds rally against gun violence; Gov. Tim Walz calls Minnesota Republicans ‘island of resistance’ in debate

The crowd in St. Paul cheered calls to action by the governor as well as U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, others.

Gov. Tim Walz branded Minnesota Republicans on Wednesday as an “island of resistance” to increased gun safety in the state.

Speaking to reporters at the State Capitol, Walz said that GOP leaders in Florida, Ohio and other states have supported versions of expanded background checks and “red flag” laws. But there have been few cracks in the GOP’s longstanding opposition to new gun restrictions in Minnesota.

“There has been one island of resistance, and that is the Minnesota Republican Senate, on having a conversation,” Walz said.

View the complete August 8 article by Liz Sawyer and Jessie Van Berkel on The Star Tribune website here.

Statement from House DFL Leadership on changes in leadership at the Minnesota Department of Human Services

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Governor Walz announced Tony Lourey’s resignation as commissioner of the Department of Human Services, and appointed Pam Wheelock as acting commissioner.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“We are grateful to Tony Lourey for his years of service and dedication to Minnesotans,” said Speaker Hortman. “The work of the Department of Human Services is critical to the people of Minnesota and we are ready to work with Governor Walz and his administration to ensure its success.”

“We have confidence in the Walz administration and look forward to working together with Interim Commissioner Wheelock to make sure the Department of Human Services serves the needs of Minnesotans,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler.

Gov. Tim Walz takes action to prevent gas shortages in Minnesota

Walz has lifted restrictions on how many hours delivery drivers can work.

Looking to prevent fuel shortages over the holiday weekend, Gov. Tim Walz is taking executive action.

According to an executive order signed Wednesday, damage to two oil refineries (the Husky refinery fire in Superior, Wisconsin last year and flooding in Tulsa, Oklahoma) may lead to shortages at local gas stations.

Motor fuel terminals provide gas to stations, which is delivered by trucks. With motor fuel terminals across the Midwest experiencing shortages, local gas stations could begin to see the effect, the executive order stated.

View the complete July 5 article by Madeline Deninger on the Bring Me the News website here.

Gov. Walz signs comprehensive response to opioid crisis into law

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Governor Tim Walz today signed into law a comprehensive response to Minnesota’s opioid crisis that holds Big Pharma accountable. In 2017, there were more than 2,000 visits to Minnesota emergency rooms for opioid-involved overdoses, with 422 Minnesotans losing their lives. Since 2010, the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths has steadily increased each year. The new law, championed in the Minnesota House by Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), becomes effective today.

“I’m incredibly thankful for the Minnesotans who have come forward to share how this crisis has impacted them, including countless family members who have lost loved ones, first responders, and professionals working in treatment and recovery,” said Rep. Olson, the House Majority Whip. “Getting this bill across the finish line required a great deal of compromise, but it highlights what we’re able to accomplish when we all recognize the significance of a problem and share a bipartisan commitment to solving it. Working together to implement these solutions, we can prevent future heartbreaking tragedies and hold Big Pharma accountable.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz signs comprehensive response to opioid crisis into law”

Gov. Walz Signs into law Measure to Deliver Financial Relief to Argosy Students

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz today signed into law legislation to help former Argosy students recover financially from the college’s abrupt closure in March.

The new law will give the Office of Higher Education (OHE) the authority to release Argosy students from liability for any Minnesota SELF student loans for the spring 2019 semester, and pay them directly for other state financial aid.

“It is rewarding to see this legislation cross the finish line after working with students, staff, colleagues and other post-secondary institutions,” Chair Bernardy remarked. “Argosy students were working hard to earn a degree, and this financial relief will help make them whole again as they continue their career path into the future.”

Current state statute requires the Office of Higher Education to disburse student aid funds directly to the college, which uses the funds to pay tuition and fees before sending the remaining credit balance directly to the student. In the case of Argosy, the entire amount of student aid was kept by the college, leaving students and their families short by thousands of dollars. In the same manner, SELF Loan funding was not disbursed to students, but until this bill was signed into law, students were still required to pay those loans back.

 

Gov. Walz approves Rep. Mann’s bill creating Rare Disease Advisory Council

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Governor Walz today held a ceremonial signing for Rep. Alice Mann’s bipartisan bill establishing an advisory council at the University of Minnesota focused on rare diseases. The council will provide advice on research, diagnosis, treatment and education related to rare diseases.

“This legislation will be a lifeline to families, like Chloe Barnes’, who have devoted their lives to a vision of a world where every rare disease has a treatment option,” said Rep. Alice Mann (DFL – Lakeville). “My hope is that this will help extend the highest standard of health care to people with all medical conditions.”

The bill will also identify problems faced by patients with a rare disease when changing health plans, and include recommendations on how to remove obstacles faced by those patients in finding a new health plan that meets their needs. Continue reading “Gov. Walz approves Rep. Mann’s bill creating Rare Disease Advisory Council”

Statement from House DFL Leadership on insulin, prescription drug affordability

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements after Governor Walz’s insulin roundtable event this morning:

“Minnesotans shouldn’t lose their lives because they can’t afford lifesaving medications they need, like insulin,” said Speaker Hortman. “The House stands ready to take meaningful action on insulin affordability and hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable.”

“Senate Republicans killed the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act and sold out to Big Pharma,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “The skyrocketing price increases for drugs like insulin have to do with one thing: greed. House DFLers are committed to addressing the high prices of prescription drugs and standing up to the pharmaceutical companies profiting off Minnesotans.”

Gov. Walz Signs into law Rep. Jim Davnie’s bill to allow Minnesota homeowners to denounce racial covenants on home titles

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz today signed into law legislation to enable Minnesota homeowners an opportunity to formally respond to racially restrictive covenants on their home titles. Racial covenants are clauses in housing titles that were used by real estate developers in the 20th century to discriminate against and prevent people of color from buying, owning, or even residing in certain property.

In response to the racially restrictive covenants that many in South Minneapolis inherited on their home titles, Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) sponsored legislation this year to create a streamlined process for homeowners to respond to racial restrictions in their housing contracts. Although restrictive covenants are already prohibited and have been ruled as unconstitutional, they remain on residential titles and help explain the patterns to housing segregation in Minnesota.

“This is a historic day for Minnesotans,” Rep. Davnie remarked. “While the covenants no longer have any force of law, they still are a moral injury to the current homeowner. This also provides a way for our community to have a conversation about the history of racial discrimination in housing in Minnesota and how it impacts our families and communities today.”Rep. Davnie’s legislation will allow residents to fill out a form related to the title of the property to clarify the restrictive covenant is ineffective, and legally discharged it from the property.

 

The law goes into effect August 1, 2019, making Minnesota the third state after California and Washington to enact such a law.

 

You can learn more about Minneapolis’s housing history from the Mapping Prejudice Project, which is aimed at compiling research related to Jim Crow laws in northern cities.