Tag: House Ways and Means Committee

House Ways & Means Committee reviews recommendations to deliver racial justice in Minnesota

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee reviewed the House Select Committee on Racial Justice’s report to the Legislature. Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights) served as co-chairs of the Select Committee.

The final version of the report, which the Select Committee approved in December, was released today. It calls on the Legislature to act to dismantle racism through a series of policy recommendations in areas such as economic development, housing, education, public safety, health and human services, and environmental justice.

“It’s time for the Minnesota Legislature to deliberately and thoughtfully devote the capacity we have to address the significant, numerous, and urgent inequities Black, Indigenous, and people of color continue to face,” Rep. Moran said. “It’s about undoing past and present inequities in our laws and practices and working toward building a state and future that positions Minnesota to lead the nation in achieving racial equity.”

Continue reading “House Ways & Means Committee reviews recommendations to deliver racial justice in Minnesota”

Judge says Treasury must give Trump 72 hours before releasing tax info to Democrats

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A federal judge on Friday issued a temporary order that will require the Treasury Department to give former President Trump‘s personal lawyers 72 hours notice before providing Trump’s tax returns to House Democrats.

Judge Trevor McFadden, a judge in federal district court in Washington, D.C., appointed by Trump, directed the Treasury Department and IRS to provide Trump’s personal lawyers with the three-days notice before providing the former president’s tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee.

The order lasts until Feb. 5. Continue reading.

Rep. Rena Moran to Chair House Ways and Means Committee

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced the appointment of Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul) as the next chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Moran expressed gratitude for the opportunity to chair the committee, which has broad jurisdiction over state budget matters.

“I’m deeply honored to enter this next step of my time in the Legislature, and thank Speaker Hortman for the tremendous opportunity,” Rep. Moran said. “My goal in chairing this committee will be to ensure our state budget is a true reflection of our values, and recognizes what Minnesotans need to get through this crisis of COVID-19 and racial injustices. It’s no secret people all over the state are going through challenges as a result of both. No matter how difficult the job will be, I’m looking forward to the work ahead to help Minnesotans emerge stronger.”

Upon receiving the gavel when the Legislature convenes in January, Rep. Moran will become the first person of color to chair the committee as well as the first African American woman.

Continue reading “Rep. Rena Moran to Chair House Ways and Means Committee”

House Ways and Means Committee Passes Bill Granting $50 Million to Emergency Community Relief Grant Program

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — This afternoon, the House Ways and Means Committee passed HF 4611. The bill, authored in the House by State Representative Aisha Gomez (DFL- Minneapolis) and in the Senate by Senator Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina), creates an emergency community relief grant program that is designed to help individuals who have been harmed by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill is designed to aid those who have slipped through the cracks of other aid programs, and has broad support from over 70 community organizations.

“Even though there have been a number of aid programs to help Minnesotans who have been impacted by COVID-19, there are far too many people in our communities who don’t have a safety net,” said Rep. Gomez. “This bill recognizes that workers who are undocumented, earn their income from tips, or are considered other ‘non-traditional’ workers, are a critical part of our communities. These workers have been equally impacted by the pandemic, yet their plight has been largely ignored and government aid has been extremely limited. It is critical that we stick to our values and stand by the most vulnerable during this crisis.” Continue reading “House Ways and Means Committee Passes Bill Granting $50 Million to Emergency Community Relief Grant Program”

Minnesota House committee advances $600 million in new financial aid for cities, counties, townships

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA —  Today the Minnesota House of Representatives Ways and Means committee approved a bill to provide more than $600 million in new aid for cities, counties, and townships. The proposal, authored by Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth), is paid for using federal CARES Act resources distributed to states.

“This proposal will help our counties, cities, and townships cover the huge costs of providing essential services due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Marquart. “This provides the needed funding for the great work our police officers, firefighters, first responders, nurses, and other local heroes are doing every day to save lives and provide a safety net in our communities.”

According to Rep. Marquart, local governments could use the new resources to pay for medical expenses, testing, tracing, and facilitating compliance with COVID-related directives. In addition, funds could also be used to provide workers’ compensation, address homelessness, facilitate the disposal of farm animals, and assist businesses with interruptions due to COVID-19.

A copy of the bill is available here. A video of Rep. Marquart’s presentation of the bill and Q&A is available here. The entire Minnesota House is expected to approve the bill in the coming days. The 2020 legislative session adjourns Monday, May 18, 2020.

 

House Ways and Means Committee approves bill creating COVID-19 contact tracing program

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the Minnesota Ways and Means Committee approved legislation appropriating $300 million to establish a contact tracing, case investigation, and follow-up program for COVID-19 cases. The bill, authored by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), the House Health and Human Services Finance Division chair, represents the next phase of Minnesota’s public health response to the pandemic.

“The new testing partnership with Mayo Clinic and other providers is moving forward. Now we need the ability to effectively follow-up on the testing by finding people exposed to the virus and helping them avoid spreading the virus,” Rep. Liebling said. “Contact tracing is a key strategy to get our state back on track and move toward reopening our economy as quickly as possible.”

The program will aim to accurately and efficiently identify people who may have contracted COVID-19 and allow them to be isolated until the risk of contagion has passed. The Minnesota Department of Health will manage the program, but may hire other organizations to hire, train, and manage up to 4,200 temporary employees who could be needed. Hires could include furloughed health care workers, public health students, retirees, and volunteers. Continue reading “House Ways and Means Committee approves bill creating COVID-19 contact tracing program”

Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee Holds Remote Hearing

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Ways and Means Committee held a remote hearing where members were given a presentation by MMB Commissioner Myron Frans and State Economist Dr. Laura Kalambokidis regarding the quarterly economic outlook, and an update on COVID-19 related federal funding.

“Minnesota is going through unprecedented economic times. It is critical that we work early and often to balance the budget before the end of the fiscal year,” said Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL – Crystal), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. “It is too early to say just how much COVID-19 will cost Minnesota, both in loss of revenue and increased spending to manage the virus. Regardless of the final budget forecast, House Ways and Means will fulfill its constitutional duty to balance the budget.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee Holds Remote Hearing”

House Dems ask federal judge to proceed with Trump tax returns lawsuit — based on arguments made by president’s impeachment legal team

AlterNet logoDemocrats have been seeking President Donald Trump’s tax returns at both the federal and state levels; one of the federal efforts has been a lawsuit by the House Ways and Means Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts. And on February 15, House Democrats asked U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden to lift a stay on that lawsuit — using, reporter Jerry Lambe notes in Law & Crime, “arguments put forth by Trump’s impeachment legal team.”

House Democrats made their argument to McFadden, a Trump appointee, in an 11-page motion. And House General Counsel Douglas Letter, according to Lambe, specifically used “statements made by the president’s impeachment attorneys, Jay Sekulow and Alan Dershowitz.”

“Defendants appear to be arguing that what President Trump’s impeachment counsel meant to say was that, before impeaching the president, the House was required to file futile subpoena enforcement suits so that DOJ could then successfully obtain dismissal on justiciability grounds, without any ruling on the merits,” Douglas asserted in the motion. “The court should not assume that the president’s accomplished lawyers meant to advance such a cynical argument — that congressional committees are constitutionally obliged to waste their own time and resources, and those of the judiciary, on futile gestures.” Continue reading.

Treasury, IRS set to miss subpoena deadline on Trump tax returns

The Treasury Department and IRS are set to miss a Friday deadline to comply with subpoenas for Trump’s tax returns, setting up a prolonged legal battle.

Democrats are examining options for their next steps. But both sides agree the matter is headed to the courts.

“I think Friday is the turning point,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.). “There’s no more letters to be written.”

View the complete May 17 article by Naomi Jagoda on The Hill website here.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig subpoenaed over Trump tax returns

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal makes announcement Friday

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal announced Friday he had issued subpoenas to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to provide President Donald Trump’s tax returns.

The Massachusetts Democrat first asked for six years of Trump’s tax returns and six years of returns from eight of the president’s businesses in an April 3 letter to Rettig. Mnuchin, who oversees the IRS, responded that he was considering the request while making arguments as to why Neal was not entitled to the documents.

Neal rejected those arguments in an April 13 letter, and on May 6, Mnuchin formally rejected the Massachusetts Democrat’s request.

View the complete May 10 article by Doug Sword on The Roll Call website here.