In the Know: March 22, 2019

Congress
EDITORIAL: Rep. Stauber misleads, The Timberjay
AP: GOP won more seats in 2018 than suggested by vote share, AP

Governor Tim Walz

Walz turns up heat to keep tax that funds health programs, AP
Legislative panel debates Walz 70 percent gas tax hike plan, KARE11
Walz administration seeking new powers to regulate child care assistance program, MinnPost
Guest Column: Contrasts are big in DFL and GOP budgets, guest column by Ken Martin, Albert Lea Tribune
Walz scales back budget plan after surplus shrinks, MPR

Minnesota
Number of top income tax filers continues to rise in Minnesota, Star Tribune
100% clean energy will benefit the health and well-being of all Minnesotans, MinnPost
Statewide, Minnesota has a healthy measles vaccination rate. But in some school districts, the rate is much lower, MinnPost
Deaths of despair hit home, MinnPost
Great Lakes already hit by climate change, Duluth News Tribune
PolyMet receives final permit, Duluth News Tribune
New homeless count reflects what metro officials have said for months — but it’s even worse in rural areas, Pioneer Press
Minnesota lost 8,800 jobs in February, unemployment rate rises to 3.1 percent, Pioneer Press
Letter: A world for grandchildren, Austin Daily Herald
Snow, cold wiped out nearly 9,000 Minnesota jobs last month, may signal a bigger turn, Star Tribune
The path to cleaner, safer Twin Cities mass transit, Star Tribune
Minnesota officials seek new powers to catch, prevent child-care fraud, Star Tribune

Minnesota Legislature
The Legislature really wants to help and/or hurt Minnesota cities setting municipal ID
programs
, MinnPost
Shared parenting fight returns to Minn. Capitol, Star Tribune
Minnesota officials seek new powers to catch, prevent child-care fraud, Star Tribune
Minnesota lawmakers debate snow-day relief as hourly school workers worry about pay, Star Tribune
Senate panel to take up Minnesota’s ‘marital rape’ exception, Star Tribune
Our View: State needs to close special ed funding gap, Rochester Post-Bulletin
DMV computer mess reckoning: Senate approves $13 million for license centers, Pioneer Press
‘We’re all in this pothole together’: Transportation funding, gas tax and #MNPotholes are the talk of the Capitol, Pioneer Press
MN House advances bill lowering bar on workplace harassment cases, Pioneer Press
Our View: Broadband: Big investment still critical need, Mankato Free Press
MN House votes to remove ‘severe or pervasive’ standard for sexual harassment, MPR
Minnesota Senate votes for $10 million disaster response fund, MPR
Supporters rally around medical provider tax in Minn., Waseca County News

Representative Angie Craig
Craig signs onto House carbon tax and dividend bill, Prior Lake American

Representative Ilhan Omar
Omar rallies support for bill banning gay conversion therapy, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Senator Amy Klobuchar


Trump
Can Trump Survive Mueller?, Politico
Kushner used private email to conduct official business, House committee says, MPR
Trump order upholds free speech on campus; Minnesota colleges say they already comply, Star Tribune
Trump intensifies effort to discredit Mueller report, AP
Hogan: Trump challenge now ‘doesn’t make any sense at all’, AP
AP FACT CHECK: Trump blames media for his McCain rant, AP

U.S.
Judge Restores Wisconsin Governor’s Powers, Strikes Down GOP Laws, NPR
Jimmy Carter’s new milestone: Longest-lived US president, AP
Jimmy Carter thought he was nearing death in 2015. He just became the longest-living president in history, Duluth News Tribune
Then and now: World transformed over Jimmy Carter’s 94 years, AP
Great Lakes feeling the burn from climate change, MPR
Floods show national security threat posed by climate change, MPR
Federal court ruling may open the door to more ‘scam PACs’, MPR
750,000 Medtronic defibrillators vulnerable to hacking, Star Tribune
Facebook left millions of passwords readable by employees, AP
Poll: More Americans say too little spending on health, AP

Upcoming DFL Events

  • March 22, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • March 26
    • 6:00 to 8:00 PM — CD3 Leadership Screening Session, Davanni’s Meeting Room, 8061 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Executive Committee Meeting, contact them for more information.
  • March 27, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 Leadership Screening Session, Lunds & Byerlys Meeting Room, 13081 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • March 29, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • April 1 — April Fools’ Day
  • April 2
    • 5:30 to 7:30 PM — Minnesota DFL Young Professionals Fundraiser and Social Hour with Mayor Jacob Frey and Council Member Jalali Nelson, Lake Monster Brewing, 550 Vandalia St, Unit 160, Saint Paul, MN 55114. More information and RSVP here.
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their Facebook page for specifics
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Mississippi Room, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
  • April 3
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 PM — Gov. Walz’s State of the State Address, more information as it becomes available.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • April 5, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • April 8
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • April 10, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD45 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Crystal City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr N, Minneapolis, MN 55422
  • April 11, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Minnetonka Mills Room, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • April 12, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • April 14, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting
  • April 16, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Convention, Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka MN 55305
  • April 17
    • 6:30 to 8:00 PM — SD48 Town Hall with Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, Rep. Laurie Pryor and Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, Eden Prairie High School, 17185 Valley Viw Rd, Eden Prairie, MN
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Business Meeting, Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • April 19 — Good Friday
    • 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • April 19 through April 27 — Passover