Volume 6, Issue 4
January 29, 2021
Weekly Review Video
A weekly message from your Senator
Dear Constituents and Friends,
Welcome to the end of our fourth week in session, a week filled with conversations surrounding the budget. Governor Walz released his 2022 – 2023 budget priorities on Tuesday, and we are working our way through the recommendations. The budget recommendations come directly from Governor Walz’s office, not budget recommendations that the Minnesota Senate. There is a lot to unpack in these recommendations, but we will be going through specific sections during committees. On Thursday, Commissioner Harpstead joined the Human Services Reform Committee as we dove into the 479 page Human Services budget recommendation.
Along with budget recommendations, this week Governor Walz released the Due North Education Plan. This education reform plan aims to address the education needs brought on and continued with the pandemic. This plan prioritizes equitable education for all Minnesota students regardless of race, income level, or geographic location. It also focuses on funding for mental health, funding summer school programs, and early childhood education.
In COVID-19 vaccine rollout news, there has been a change in the system. The new lottery system in place allows people 24 hours to pre-register and then individuals are chosen randomly selected for an appointment. The Minnesota Department of Health has noted that the pilot sites are just the beginning of the vaccine rollout and will not be the way that most Minnesotans will receive their vaccine. As Minnesota gets more vaccines from the federal government, more locations will open, and people will be able to get the vaccine at their health care provider’s office or local pharmacy.
I encourage you to join the first Senate District 49 Town Hall of 2021 in coordination with the League of Women Voters Edina and LWV Bloomington. I will join Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL – House District 49A) and Rep. Steve Elkins (DFL – House District 49B) on Tuesday, February 9th from 7:00 – 8:30 P.M to address a series of important issues to the community, answer questions, and preview the 2021 legislative session priorities. To join the Zoom participants will need to RSVP, and while signing up, you will be able to submit questions. The Zoom invite will be sent out the day before and will be live streamed to Facebook.
Sincerely,
Melisa