Tag: Melissa Hortman

Minnesota House approves major jobs legislation to jumpstart economy

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — With 100 votes, Minnesota House lawmakers today approved legislation that will create and protect tens of thousands of jobs. The nearly $2 billion package would be a major boon to Minnesota’s economy at a time when the unemployment rate is stuck at historically high levels due to the pandemic. House Republicans previously blocked passage of similar jobs bills in May and July. 

“We listened to Minnesotans who have been asking for our help,” said House Capital Investment Chair Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown). “This economic stimulus bill connects Minnesotans to other Minnesotans, addresses critical public infrastructure needs across the state, and will create thousands of jobs at a time when they are sorely needed. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this important jobs and local projects and economic development package.” 

According to the most recent data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate stands at 7.9% and job gains were lower than expected in September. The US economy is still 11 million jobs short of pre-pandemic levels.

Continue reading “Minnesota House approves major jobs legislation to jumpstart economy”

Minnesota House Announces Membership of New Select Committee on Racial Justice, Schedules First Public Meeting for Sept. 22

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – House Speaker Melissa Hortman today announced the membership of the new House Select Committee on Racial Justice and scheduled its first public meeting for September 22. The committee is responsible for examining disparities Minnesotans of color face regarding health, public safety, education, employment, housing and other areas.

Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights) and Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul) will co-chair the committee. Rep. Lisa Demuth (R – Cold Spring) will serve as vice chair. 

“Minnesota can never truly prosper as a state if it doesn’t guarantee equitable opportunities to every resident, regardless of their race,” said Rep. Richardson. “The House’s new select committee is long overdue and it represents a commitment to bring about meaningful change.”

“I’m proud we have this forum in the Minnesota House to dive deeply into the impacts Black, Indigenous and People of Color still face in our state, which affect their health, safety, and overall wellbeing,” said Rep. Moran. “While racism’s harm to public health isn’t new, this year’s events have shined a light on the problem and it’s a pivotal time to tackle the crisis head-on.”

In July, the House approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis in Minnesota, noting more than 100 studies have linked racism to worse health outcomes, while Black and Indigenous communities experience the highest death rates. Additionally, several medical organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and the American Public Health Association have recognized that racism is a social determinant for health, with a profound impact across an individual’s lifespan, along with other long-standing, unaddressed disparities and socioeconomic inequities as a result of systemic racism.

“I’m grateful to Reps. Richardson and Moran for co-chairing this important Select Committee, and to Rep. Demuth for serving as Vice Chair. I look forward to the committee’s recommendations,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “We have to dismantle the structural racism inherent in our own institution and address our state’s inexcusable racial inequities.”

“It’s clear that racial disparities are entrenched in our communities and run deep to the foundations that shape policing, education, housing, employment, health, and more,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “The House needs to examine itself and address racism for what it is — an economic and public health crisis.” 

Other members include Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL – Roseville), Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL – Edina), Rep. Kaohly Her (DFL – Saint Paul), Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL – Spring Lake Park), Rep. Sandy Layman (R – Cohasset), Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Anne Neu (R – North Branch), Rep. Steve Sandell (DFL – Woodbury), and Rep. Dean Urdahl (R – Grove City).

The first hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Minnesota House Passes Police Accountability Act

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House approved the Minnesota Police Accountability Act. The legislation, authored by members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, contains strong police accountability reforms and measures to ensure racial justice.

“Today, we’re beginning to make the overdue changes Minnesotans have been demanding to help ensure no more lives are lost due to police violence,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), bill author and chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division. “By passing this bill into law, we’re taking the first steps toward major changes to hold police officers accountable for harmful acts, and we are committed to continuing our work for safer communities. It wasn’t safe for George Floyd or for Philando Castile, and they deserved a better way to police that builds community.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Passes Police Accountability Act”

Minnesota House to vote on jobs and local projects, tax legislation on Monday

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House of Representatives will vote on jobs and local projects and tax legislation on Monday, July 20. The spreadsheet of bonding provisions is here and the spreadsheet of tax provisions can be found here.

Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman released the following statement:

“In the middle of a pandemic that has put us into a recession, it’s important that the state legislature do everything we can to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. This bill will create jobs and fund infrastructure projects our communities desperately need. It’s time for House Republicans to leave aside unrelated matters and join us in passing this agreement on behalf of Minnesotans.” Continue reading.

Minnesota House Declares Racism a Statewide Public Health Crisis

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA— The Minnesota House of Representatives today voted to declare racism a public health crisis.

According to the official resolution voted upon today, the declaration applies to the entire state and affirms that the Minnesota House will be an active participant in the dismantling of racism. It creates a House Select Committee on Minnesota’s response tasked with analyzing legislative work through an intersectional race equity lens.

“This is about advancing and promoting equitable opportunity across all of our systems, in the areas of health, education, housing, public safety, and economic and workforce development,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights), chief author of the resolution. “The COVID-19 pandemic and senseless murder of George Floyd have shined a light on the historical and contemporary injustices that are still embedded in our society.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Declares Racism a Statewide Public Health Crisis”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: July 16, 2020


Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are staying safe during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Legislature is back in Special Session and working on the many challenges currently facing Minnesotans. We continue to see very concerning spikes in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths around the country. The health and safety of Minnesotans is our top priority. This pandemic won’t go away just because we’d like it to. The emergency is still here.

Working toward police accountability and declaring racism is a public health crisis

We need systemic change in policing that ensures police are accountable to the communities they serve. Under my leadership, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed significant police accountability legislation during the June special session. Our efforts in the Minnesota House are being led by Rep. Carlos Mariani, Rep. Rena Moran, and the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: July 16, 2020”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: July 1, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are staying safe, healthy, and enjoying the summer. While it’s been encouraging to see COVID-19 hospitalizations dropping in Minnesota, we’re continuing to see increases in cases, and very concerning spikes in states across the country. Please continue to social distance and wear a mask when in public.

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Minnesota has reached the milestone of a daily capacity of 20,000 tests. If you have symptoms, please get tested. Testing is critical to preventing and monitoring the spread of COVID-19. You can learn more and find testing locations here. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: July 1, 2020”

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.”

 

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: June 9, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

All of us are angry and saddened by the murder of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, and we are seeking answers about how we will move forward as a state from this point in history.

The peaceful demonstrations, spontaneous clean ups, food drives, fundraising campaigns, and works of art show exactly who we are as a community: neighbors caring for neighbors. We care about one another and we are going to help each other rebuild, and we’ll move forward together to create real systemic change.

The Legislature will convene for a Special Session starting on June 12th. Passing racial justice and police accountability legislation is a top priority of the Minnesota House of Representatives. This work has been led by our People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) legislators and community members. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: June 9, 2020”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 22, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

The 2020 Legislative Session wrapped up earlier this week. Like nearly everything in our lives, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the session and completely changed our focus. We quickly shifted from an in-person Legislature to one that operates remotely and online while still being open to the public and input.

We enacted four pieces of COVID-19-related legislation with incredible bipartisan effort, and the work will continue.

Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day — a day for us to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the service of our country. While the pandemic keeps us physically apart, we can still remember our fallen heroes and pay our respects. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: May 22, 2020”