DFL Legislators Announce Plan to Protect Elections from COVID-19

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, Representative Jamie Long, Senator Nick Frentz, and DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin announced their “Defending Democracy” plan, a set of legislative proposals designed to ensure that all eligible voters can safely cast ballots during the COVID-19 outbreak. The entirety of the plan they released can be viewed here. The proposal includes the following measures:

Ballots

  • Top recommendation: Send every registered Minnesota voter an absentee ballot, including pre-paid postage for return;
  • Accept all absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day rather than those that are received by Election Day;
  • Allow individuals and community organizations to assist voters complete, then collect and deliver, sealed ballots;
  • Allow individuals on Minnesota’s eleven reservations to serve as witnesses for absentee ballots, even if the individuals lack a street address.

Polling Locations

  • Top recommendation: Enact a true early vote system so that voters may cast their ballot in-person for the forty-six days prior to Election Day, removing the additional step of filling out an absentee ballot application;
  • Assist the counties and cities that run elections so that they may have more early- and Election Day polling locations in order that the number of people waiting in line to vote in-person will be reduced;
  • Extend the May 1 deadline for major political parties to submit the names of those who will serve as election judges, providing time to recruit younger people to operate our elections, which rely on nearly 30,000 workers;
  • Assist municipalities and counties to place ballot drop-boxes outside of local government buildings;
  • Work to ensure that all polling locations are sanitized to protect voters and election judges.

Registration

  • Send a voter registration form, together with an application for an absentee ballot, to every unregistered Minnesotan who is eligible to be a voter, including pre-paid postage for return.

“During this time of fear and uncertainty, the last thing Minnesotans should have to worry about is their right to vote,” said Representative Jamie Long. “The best way to ensure that every eligible Minnesota voter is able to cast their ballot is to make it easy to vote by mail this election. This has worked well for other states, and will avoid undemocratic and dangerous elections like we saw this week in Wisconsin.”

“Throughout our nation’s history, so many brave Americans have sacrificed so much to establish and defend our democracy,” said Senator Nick Frentz. “The least we can do to honor that sacrifice and live up to the ideals in our Constitution is take action to protect our freedom to vote. I hope my colleagues in both parties will join me in supporting these proposals and working to ensure that our electoral infrastructure is ready for whatever comes our way in August and November.”

“Nobody should have to choose between protecting their health and casting their ballot,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “We don’t know how long this pandemic is going to last or whether we’ll face a second outbreak this fall, as some medical experts have predicted. Our primary is 124 days away, early voting starts in just 78 days, and we will need to begin training folks and printing ballots in early May. These changes will take time to implement, so we must act now if we are going to defend our democracy from the worst public health crisis in a century.”

 

 

Minnesota might just be flattening that coronavirus curve

There are days when we feel like very little can get us through this wild, weird time, so hopefully this will help.

This quarantined, self-isolated thing we’re doing as a state? It’s working.

The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has been modeling possible outcomes for the coronavirus outbreak in order to help policymakers and health professionals prepare. At this early stage, nothing is certain.

But current data show that Minnesota’s fatal cases have not been increasing at an exponential rate. We were up to 30 total deaths and just shy of 1,000 confirmed cases as of Monday afternoon. Continue reading.

Secretary Simon Introduces Plan For Elections in a Pandemic

On April 8, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon appeared before the House Elections Committee to introduce a bill that would give the Secretary of State’s Office temporary expanded authority to ensure the conduct of safe elections during this time of pandemic emergency.

“The administration of elections has become a public health issue. Minnesotans should not have to choose between their health and their right to vote,” said Secretary Simon. “After talking with elections professionals from all levels of government throughout the state, the goal became very clear to me: we need to minimize exposure at polling places and maximize voting by mail.”

If the bill were enacted, Minnesota’s elections for 2020 would include the following temporary, one-time changes: Continue reading “Secretary Simon Introduces Plan For Elections in a Pandemic”

Minnesota House Tax Committee holds first-ever remote hearing

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Tax Committee held its first-ever remote hearing on Wednesday, April 8 from 8:30-9:30am. Minnesotans had an opportunity to participate in the hearing by providing public comment or signing up to testify in advance and watching live video courtesy of the non-partisan House Public Information Services. Click here to watch a replay of the entire hearing.

“As the Minnesota House adapts to doing the people’s work in different ways during this unprecedented public health crisis, I want to thank Minnesotans for your patience as we learn from and refine this process,” said Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth).

The hearing featured a brief overview from the non-partisan House Research Department on tax items included in the federal CARES Act with state implications, as well as a bill allowing the commissioner of revenue discretion in posting certain taxpayers affected by an executive closure order. All documents from the hearing can be accessed on the committee webpage here.

This Remote Hearing took place pursuant to Rule 10.01, which you may view here:https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/permrule/1001.htm

 

Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 9, 2020


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April 8, 2020


Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 3:00 PM on 4/8/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Governor Walz today extended the Stay Home Order until May 4 in order to continue Minnesota’s success in slowing the spread of COVID-19 across the state.

“What we are doing is working, Minnesota,” said Governor Walz. “We are taking this seriously, and we are staying home. While Minnesota is showing lower rates of infections than our peers across the country, now is not the time to let up or allow that trajectory to change.”

The Governor’s order to stay home is forecasted to significantly slow the spread of COVID-19, pushing out the peak of the disease and allowing the state to continue key preparations for the pandemic. These preparations include building new hospital capacity and buying ventilators and masks, planning for how to protect those most at risk, expanding testing, and freeing up time for health care giants like the Mayo Clinic to develop critical treatments for the virus. The Stay Home Order is now extended to 11:59 pm on May 3, 2020. Continue reading “Gov. Walz’s COVID-19 Update: April 9, 2020”

Minnesota House Judiciary Committee holds its first remote hearing

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House Judiciary and Civil Law Division held a remote hearing this morning to discuss a number of proposals related to the court system during the COVID-19 pandemic. With new legislative procedures in place to ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines, it was the panel’s first hearing conducted via video conference.

“During this unprecedented peacetime emergency, we’ve all had to adapt to the new situation in a variety of ways, including changes to how we deliver justice under the law,” said Rep. John Lesch (DFL – Saint Paul), the committee chair. “We’ve worked hard to reach consensus on these key issues that allow important legal mechanisms, like marriages and wills, to proceed, while ensuring members of the public, staff, and officers of the court can all remain safe and healthy.”

The division discussed, amended, and approved three bills. HF 1197, authored by Rep. Lesch, contains a proposal from the Minnesota Judicial Branch to temporarily suspend statutory deadlines in district and appellate courts. HF 1196, also authored by Rep. Lesch, provides a “harmless error” exception which will remove barriers toward proper execution of a will. HF 798, authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview), contains a request from district court and county officials to delay child support cost-of-living adjustments.

While not officially introduced yet, the committee also discussed a bipartisan proposal to allow for marriage license applications during the peacetime emergency without appearing in person.

Video of the hearing is available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.

 

Minnesota House Transportation Finance Committee Holds Remote Hearing

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House Transportation Finance Committee held a remote hearing to discuss proposed legislation to address various transportation-oriented topics that are related to the COVID-19 disease. Provisions included extending out-of-state commercial driver’s licenses, extending some vehicle registrations, providing for the issuing commercial driver’s licenses, requiring agency reports to the legislature, and specifying allowable uses of federal aid.

“Minnesotans are encountering challenging times with disruptions to their daily lives during the COVID-19 pandemic,” remarked Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis) Chair of the Transportation Finance Committee. “We’re working on bipartisan basis to address these difficulties, especially with vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses, and we’re doing so in a way that ensures the public has the opportunity to weigh in.”

“It’s important that an adaptive and functioning government continues during this pandemic, and updating our requirements in relation to transportation needs to be a part of that,” said Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL – Shakopee) Vice Chair of the Transportation Finance Committee and author of the proposed language. “Things are quickly changing for Minnesotans, and this proposed legislation would provide clarity when it comes to commercial driver’s licenses and vehicle registration, while also ensuring the legislature remains informed.”

Testimony was given by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, and Sam Rockwell of Move Minnesota. The committee advanced the legislation to the Ways and Means Committee.

Supporting documents can be found on the committee’s website, and a video recording of the hearing can be found on the House Public Information’s YouTube channel.

 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on extended Stay at Home Order

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — This afternoon, Governor Walz announced an extension of his Stay at Home Executive Order, directing Minnesotans to limit movements outside of their homes until May 4, 2020.

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

“Minnesotans have done a great job of social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, but we are not out of this crisis yet,” said Speaker Hortman. “Governor Walz and his team have done an excellent job following the data and making strong decisions to protect Minnesotans. Today’s extended Stay at Home order is no different. I strongly encourage Minnesotans to stay home as much as you can, maintain social distancing, and wear a mask when in public.”

“What Minnesota is doing seems to be working, and we have to keep it up,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Lives are on the line and our long-term economic future is in jeopardy if we don’t get this right. I thank Governor Walz for continuing to make responsible decisions in the best interest of Minnesotans. The Minnesota House of Representatives is continuing to work with the Governor to do everything we can to help Minnesotans during this difficult time.”

 

Newspapers close, staff cut as coronavirus hits the Minnesota media

Two Twin Cities titles are shutting down, while there are cuts at other media outlets.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a severe impact on media outlets across the country as advertising income dwindles, and Minnesota is no exception.

As companies struggle to stay afloat amid the ongoing COVID-19 shutdowns, one of the first budgets cut is typically in marketing, having a significant knock-on effect for the newspapers, websites, radio stations and TV news outlets for whom they’re vital.

In Minnesota, the sudden onset of the coronavirus has proven too much for some to survive, with the Hastings Star Gazette and The Bulletin of Woodbury and Cottage Grove announcing on Monday they will shut down. Continue reading.

4 more dead as Minnesota surpasses 1,000 positive tests for coronavirus

There are now 34 dead in Minnesota since the start of the outbreak.

Four more people have died from the novel coronavirus in Minnesota, bringing the state’s total number of deaths to 34 in just over a month since the outbreak began in early March.

The total number of confirmed cases in Minnesota now stands at 1,069, an increase of 83 from Monday’s reported totals, which come from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are reflective of reports submitted through 8 p.m. the day prior.

The 83 positives tests is the largest single-day total so far in Minnesota, though MDH has previously noted that Tuesday figures tend to be be higher due to a testing lag from over the weekend. Continue reading.