Tag: Week in Review

Senate DFL Week in Review: February 14, 2019


Minnesota Senate abuzz with events and committee hearings

It was another busy week in the Senate with several press conferences, including the announcement of the Increase Teachers of Color Act and African American Family Preservation Act, a joint Senate and House press conference on Chronic Wasting Disease, one on public safety, and another on college affordability. Other topics covered in press conferences held this week include protecting net neutrality, a ban on conversion therapy, and a memorial in honor of the one-year anniversary of the Parkland school shooting. Legislative leaders and Governor Tim Walz also laid out a new set of deadlines that they say will help in achieving an orderly end to the legislative session.

With the first committee deadline only four weeks away, committee schedules ramped up and heard more high-profile bills such as opioid reforms, elderly abuse, school safety, and firefighter PTSD legislation. The Office of Legislative Auditor also released their MNLARS report this week.

One of the main jobs of the 2019 session is passing a two-year budget. Gov. Walz is expected to announce his budget proposal on Feb. 19 and lawmakers will receive the February budget forecast on Feb. 28. This information will frame the basis of formulating the state’s two-year budget. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: February 14, 2019”

Minnesota Senate Week in Review: Week Five, February 7, 2019

WEEK FIVE: February 7, 2019

Committee work in full swing at the Senate, committee deadlines released

It’s been a busy week at the Capitol with committees in full swing hearing bills including hands-free legislation, electronic monitoring in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, higher education capital investment needs, and requiring a personal finance course to graduate from high school.

There were also a number of press conferences held this week, kicking off with the 100% clean energy press conference, a discussion on wage theft, the announcement of a new United Black Legislative Caucus, and a press conference on tax filing. MN Second Chance also held a press conference and the Joint Religious Legislative Council (JRLC) held their Day on the Hill. Continue reading “Minnesota Senate Week in Review: Week Five, February 7, 2019”

Senate DFL Week in review: January 31, 2019

Minnesota Senate continues work in spite of cold weather

Week four of the 2019 Legislative Session kicked off with a joint Senate and House press conference on the legalization of recreational cannabis. The issue of cannabis legalization is one that is moving fast around the country. Their goal is to secure a legislative hearing and to begin the discussion on this issue.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue started accepting tax returns on Monday, Jan. 28. The deadline for filing taxes is April 15. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in review: January 31, 2019”

Senate DFL Week in Review: January 25, 2019

WEEK THREE: January 24, 2019

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.

There were a number of groups who held “days” at the Capitol this week including the Woman’s March, AIDS Action Day, MCCL, National School Choice, and the Minnesota gun owners lobby day. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: January 25, 2019”

Senate DFL Week in Review: May 3, 2018

Senate Republican tax plan puts millionaires first, middle-class Minnesotans last

Federal tax reform, which overwhelmingly benefits billion-dollar corporations and Republicans’ millionaire country club conservative buddies, got signed into law late last year. Senate Republicans waited until May 1 to release their first draft of changes to Minnesota’s tax code, and to no one’s surprise they followed the lead of their pals in Washington, D.C.

The Senate Republican plan lets big corporations keep their money parked overseas, tax-free. It gives a $338,000 tax cut to a handful of multi-millionaires. It makes it harder for Minnesotans to purchase affordable health insurance. It sets the state budget up for fiscal disaster and ballooning budget deficits, threatening services for children, seniors, and Minnesota families. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: May 3, 2018”

Senate DFL Week in Review: April 27, 2018

WEEK NINE:  April 27, 2018

Tick Tock – time is running out

The Legislature faces a May 21 constitutional deadline to complete its work, meaning just three short weeks remain to hold public discussion on sweeping proposals that will impact nearly every Minnesotan in one form or another. As a result of Republicans’ decision to wait until the last minute to do the job they were elected to do, the public is getting shut out of an important conversation about the state’s collective future.

It took Senate Republicans more than 60 days to pass a first draft of their supplemental budget proposal. There are some good things in this bill, but they are far outweighed by bad things that will hurt Minnesotans. The Senate Republican budget weakens collective bargaining rights, tells teachers what they can and can’t say in their classrooms, and cuts funding from crucial services. The Legislature has a lot of work to do to help build the state all Minnesotans deserve, and the Republicans’ budget doesn’t get there. It contains no real solutions to the collective challenges the state faces. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: April 27, 2018”

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 29, 2018

WEEK SIX:  March 29, 2018

Legislative session reaches midpoint

In response to the historic March for Our Lives, DFL senators this week joined high school students and Minnesotans of diverse backgrounds to announce the Senate’s first comprehensive plan to address the epidemic of gun violence in our society. The new plan focuses on three categories: Schools, Research, and Gun Safety. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: March 29, 2018”

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 22, 2018

WEEK FIVE:  March 22, 2018

We’re expecting the state contracts and pensions bills up on the Senate floor next week — here’s a bit more information about what that means.

The legislature’s first deadline is in the books

Under Minnesota law, “the Legislature shall establish by concurrent resolution deadlines for each regular session.” Deadlines help the Legislature narrow down the hundreds of bills introduced by lawmakers to proposals that have the best chance of becoming law. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: March 22, 2018”

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 8, 2018

The Minnesota State Capitol is better known as the People’s House for a good reason. Every year, hundreds of organizations and thousands of people visit Cass Gilbert’s architectural masterpiece to get involved in our democracy. This week was no different.

Dozens of groups held Day at the Capitol events, visitors flocked to the rotunda to snap a picture with a live bald eagle, and more than 1,000 high school students marched from Central High in Saint Paul to the Capitol to demand that lawmakers do something to prevent school shootings.

All of these events and gatherings give DFL senators an opportunity to listen to their constituents and participate in a conversation about the direction our state is heading. Stop by the People’s House this session to visit your senator and get involved in your democracy! Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: March 8, 2018”

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 2, 2018

WEEK TWO:  March 2, 2018

The Minnesota Senate kicked off the second week of the 2018 session on a light note – former Olympic hockey player Senator David Tomassoni rose on the Senate Floor Monday to congratulate fellow Chisholm native John Shuster and his USA Curling teammates on winning the United States’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in curling. The entire Senate chamber rose to a standing ovation in response to Sen. Tomassoni’s speech.

On Wednesday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released a new forecast that projects a $329 million budget surplus for the current biennium. Less than 10 years ago, Minnesota faced a $6 billion budget deficit. The remarkable fiscal turnaround is due in large part to a prudent decision made by Governor Dayton and DFL lawmakers to raise income taxes by 2% on the richest 2% of Minnesotans in 2013. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: March 2, 2018”