Tag: 2020 special session

Special session No. 2 to begin Monday

For the second time in as many months the House and Senate will meet in a special session.

Gov. Tim Walz has issued a proclamation calling the Legislature back to St. Paul at noon Monday, and he will extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days to help the state continue to respond to the pandemic.

Walz is urging members to pass a “robust” capital investment package, police reform and accountability measures and assistance for businesses impacted by civil unrest following the Memorial Day death of George Floyd. Continue reading.

Special session ends without agreement on policing overhaul, other key issues

They came. They debated. They couldn’t agree and they left.

Eight days of a special session was not enough for House and Senate lawmakers to reach agreement on a quartet of priority bills that included overhauling public safety and police accountability and allocating federal coronavirus funds to local units of government.

So, as the sun was coming up Saturday, both bodies adjourned sine die. Continue reading.

Minnesota Legislature adjourns without agreement on key issues

DFLers want far-reaching changes; GOP proposals are more modest.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned the special session early Saturday, without an agreement on policing changes, a bonding bill or federal COVID-19 aid for local governments.

In a statement sent just after 6 a.m., Senate DFL Minority Leader Susan Kent said, “I am deeply disappointed Senate Republicans chose to leave before finishing our work.”

Republicans and DFLers reached an impasse Friday on a package of police reforms sparked by the death of George Floyd, a logjam that upended a weeklong special session where they also hoped to provide relief to cities and towns battered by rioting and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading.

Senate Republicans Fail the People of Minnesota

Republican Senators refuse to deliver real criminal justice reform

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Early this morning, Senate Republicans ended Minnesota’s special legislative session without passing the comprehensive police and criminal justice reform bill that recently passed the Minnesota House of Representatives thanks to the hard work of the DFL Party People of Color and Indigenous Caucus.

Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party, released the following statement on the failure of Senate Republicans do work with DFLers to pass criminal justice and policing reform:

“The eyes of the nation are on Minnesota after the tragic murder of George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers. Since we cannot give George Floyd back the breath and life that he deserves and was denied, the least we can do is give him justice. It is our responsibility to reform our criminal justice and policing systems in order to end the senseless violence against Black Minnesotans.

“As the state with the only divided legislature in the nation, we had the opportunity to prove that Minnesotans can rise above partisanship and do what’s right for George Floyd, the Black community, and communities of color across our state. Unfortunately, Paul Gazelka and Senate Republicans have abandoned their responsibility to fix our broken policing system and refused to work with DFL Party lawmakers to enact real and meaningful change. By leaving town before the job is done, Senate Republicans shut out the cries for reform emanating from across Minnesota and demonstrated a complete unwillingness to make divided government work.

“It’s not enough any more for Republicans to just be the party that says no to every proposal that comes before them. It’s past time for the Republicans to put real ideas on the table on how to deal with the myriad of issues our state and nation face. Enough is enough – if Republicans can’t be part of ushering in change, then replacing them is the only solution. I strongly encourage Minnesotans frustrated at the lack of any real criminal justice and policing reform to vote Senate Republicans out of office this November.”

Minnesota House Advances Education Policy Bill

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved new legislation to help Minnesota’s students and young learners. Among other provisions, the bill provides for mental health training for teachers, vaping-prevention instruction for students, and expanded access to alternative academic and behavioral support services.

“Our bill would create a safer climate for our students, and help ease burdens on our school administration and staff,” said House Education Policy Committee Chair Cheryl Youakim (DFL-Hopkins). “While I am happy we passed these provisions, we still have so much more work to do for our students to make sure that school is a welcoming environment for everyone.”

The bill also includes a groundbreaking provision authored by Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights) limiting the circumstances under which schools can suspend or expel prekindergarten children. Continue reading “Minnesota House Advances Education Policy Bill”

Minnesota Democrats press Republicans to negotiate police reform pact

Republicans who control Minnesota Senate say they’ll adjourn special session Friday night

Democratic leaders in the Legislature on Friday openly pleaded with Republicans to stay an the Capitol and work out a deal on police reform that has eluded them over a weeklong special session.

Republicans who control the state Senate have signaled that they plan to adjourn Friday night or early Saturday, with or without agreement on new law enforcement initiatives.

“If we could just stay a few more days, we could get some amazing things done,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park. Continue reading.

Minnesota House passes PROMISE Act to help neighborhoods recover and rebuild

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the PROMISE Act — a comprehensive plan to help businesses rebuild and recover, many of which are Black, immigrant, and communities of color-owned.

PROMISE stands for Providing Resources, Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs. The PROMISE Act is inspired by what many saw and heard from community members and business owners during tours of property damage in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The legislation includes $167 million in direct assistance to small businesses as well as $125 million to compensate individuals and businesses for uninsured property loss.

“The Promise Act is a promise we are making to the neighborhoods most impacted by civil unrest after a police officer murdered George Floyd,” said Rep. Mohamud Noor, the bill’s chief author. “It’s a promise to have the backs of people of color, and indigenous and immigrant-owned businesses built from the ground up. It’s a promise to choose vibrancy and culture over gentrified redevelopment as we rebuild. It’s a promise to make sure the people who live and work in these special corridors are the ones who get to decide what their future looks like.” 

“We must take immediate action to support and rebuild our wounded communities. The Promise Act will support our communities in an equitable and holistic way so we can rebuild for and by the community,” said Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL – Minneapolis). “These commercial hubs are the lifeblood of our minority and immigrant communities. By rebuilding with an intentional focus on equity we can avoid the devastating effects of gentrification.” 

The legislation would:

  • Create a special panel to review cases and provide direct compensation to impacted individuals.
  • Partner with cities and community organizations to create economic relief programs for impacted businesses and organizations.
  • Give local units of government flexibility and tools to prevent gentrification.
  • Direct the Minnesota Department of Commerce to assist business owners, and require insurance companies to notify the department of any rejected claims.
  • Help with the rising cost of leases for eligible residential and commercial properties.
  • Eliminate the sales tax on the purchase of construction materials used to rebuild damaged or destroyed properties.
  • Provide property and sales tax cuts for eligible properties.
  • Establish a “Metropolitan Area Redevelopment Corporation” to create a long-term plan for equity-driven redevelopment and transformation.

“We need to make sure that Lake Street stays Lake Street, that Midway stays Midway, and that Broadway stays Broadway,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “These are strong economic and cultural centers of our cities, and we have to help them in a way that promotes equity and prevents gentrification. Minnesotans expect to see growth and rebirth in a better way, led by the Black and Brown Minnesotans who built these special, vibrant places.” 

 

“Our communities and these businesses, many of them minority-owned and already struggling due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, need resources to rebuild,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The Promise Act is a comprehensive plan to help those impacted that puts equity at the center of our recovery efforts. The Legislature must move quickly to help these communities recover.”

 

House DFL legislators announce economic aid plan for destroyed, damaged businesses

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House DFL legislators who represent the most impacted areas from civil unrest announced the PROMISE Act — a comprehensive plan to help businesses rebuild and recover, many of which are Black, immigrant, and communities of color-owned.

PROMISE stands for Providing Resources, Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs. The PROMISE Act is a top special session priority for DFL legislators and is inspired by what many saw and heard from community members and business owners during tours of property damage in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

“We must take immediate action to support and rebuild our wounded communities. The Promise Act will support our communities in an equitable and holistic way so we can rebuild for and by the community,” said Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL – Minneapolis). “These commercial hubs are the lifeblood of our minority and immigrant communities. By rebuilding with an intentional focus on equity we can avoid the devastating effects of gentrification.”

The legislation would:

  • Create a special panel to review cases and provide direct compensation to impacted individuals.
  • Partner with cities and community organizations to create economic relief programs for impacted businesses and organizations.
  • Give local units of government flexibility and tools to prevent gentrification.
  • Direct the Minnesota Department of Commerce to assist business owners, and require insurance companies to notify the department of any rejected claims.
  • Help with the rising cost of leases for eligible residential and commercial properties.
  • Eliminate the sales tax on the purchase of construction materials used to rebuild damaged or destroyed properties.
  • Provide property and sales tax cuts for eligible properties.
  • Establish a “Metropolitan Area Redevelopment Corporation” to create a long-term plan for equity-driven redevelopment and transformation.

“While we work on long-needed and overdue racial justice and police accountability legislation, we must also help our impacted businesses and communities recover and rebuild,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “These are strong economic and cultural centers of our cities, and we have to help them in a way that promotes equity and prevents gentrification. The extensive property damage and loss in these communities requires us to take urgent action and deliver results.” 

“Our communities and these businesses, many of them minority-owned and already struggling due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, need resources to rebuild,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Today, we’re putting forward a comprehensive plan to help those impacted, that puts equity at the center of our recovery efforts. The Legislature must move quickly to help these communities recover. I want to thank Majority Leader Winkler for agreeing to lead this important work, and the Minneapolis and St. Paul legislative delegations and city staff for their collaborative work on this proposal.”

 

Minnesota Democrats and Republicans split on police reforms, governor’s state of emergency

The session comes at a critical moment in state history, but legislators are divided on the best path forward on police reform.

Minnesota legislators clashed sharply on Friday as top Republicans rejected much of a sweeping DFL package of police reforms brought in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.

The opening hours of a special session put their contrasting agendas on full display, with Senate Republicans pushing instead to end the state of emergency that allowed Gov. Tim Walz to close bars, restaurants and schools to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

As expected, Walz formally extended those emergency powers Friday for another 30 days, triggering the special session that brought lawmakers back to the State Capitol. Continue reading.