Week in Review , CD3 DFL

Senate DFL Week in Review: May 28, 2021

Anniversary of George Floyd’s death
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Minnesota observes the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death

Tuesday, May 25, marked one year since George Floyd was murdered at the hands of Minneapolis police officer, Derrick Chauvin, in South Minneapolis. His death brought to the forefront the global consciousness of what Black communities have known about systemic racism and policing for years. Had Darnella Frasier not been there to bear witness to and record the event, it is likely Chauvin would have never faced accountability. Read more >>

Behind closed doors

Much of the work for the next two-year state budget was left unfinished at the close of the 2021 Legislative Session. With general budget spending targets not released until the last day of session, a special session will be needed to finish the work. In the meantime, working groups were assigned to negotiate which spending proposals in each budget conference committee would be included in the final bills. Working groups were expected to have these fiscal spreadsheets completed by May 28 and policy priorities agreed upon by June 4. As of Thursday, May 27, few details have emerged about the status of these negotiations. Read more >>

Senate DFL: Week in Review

Session ends with lots of work left to do
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Judiciary budget target received, time for Senate Republicans to come to the table

After initially receiving a $90 million target, $20 million of which was earmarked for the disaster assistance contingency account, DFLers fought to increase new spending for the Judiciary Committee and were able to raise the target to $105 million. This new funding, however, is expected to be stretched very thin, as our communities are demanding changes in our criminal justice and policing systems. Read more >>

Environment budget left in limbo, no progress in negotiations despite hearings

Though the Environment and Natural Resources conference committee met nine times – the House convening six hearings and the Senate three – in the final weeks of session, no progress was made towards working through the differences between the two versions of this year’s policy and budget omnibus bill. Senate Republicans maintained throughout that time that they couldn’t begin working on anything with a financial component to it, despite the many non-general fund financial components contained within the bill. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in Review: May 14, 2021

Final Days of the Legislative Session
and everything happening in the Legislature this week

A lot of work remains with only a few days left

The Legislature is constitutionally required to adjourn by midnight on May 17, yet Senate Republicans have spent the past week drawing ultimatums and refusing to negotiate on important numbers needed for the Legislature to finish its work on time. Read more >>

Conference committee update

Conference committees for each of the omnibus budget bills continued working this week. In the absence of global budget targets — spending totals that have been agreed upon by the House, governor, and Senate majority — most committees spent time working through policy provisions or items that have no associated cost. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in Review: May 7, 2021

Voter Identification Bill
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Senate Republicans support voter suppression through passage of Voter ID bill

A controversial bill passed the Senate floor this week on a party-line vote to impose onerous voter ID requirements on our future elections. Photo ID requirements—in conjunction with provisional ballots and voter registration purges—have been used by Republicans across the country to disenfranchise voters and make it more difficult for citizens to cast a ballot. Read more >>

House moving forward on police reform legislation, unclear if Senate Republicans will follow

The conference committee tasked with deliberating the 2021 Judiciary Omnibus Bill began its work this week, walking through the Senate and House versions of the bill and the similarities and differences. There is more than 200-page difference between the two bills, with the House having a higher budget target and allowing policy provisions to be included in the bill. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in Review: April 23, 2021

Guilty verdict for Chauvin
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges

A jury in Hennepin County this week found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty on three charges in the murder of George Floyd: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin is currently imprisoned and awaiting sentencing, which is expected to happen in about eight weeks. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in : March 19, 2021

Proving a clean future
and everything happening in the Legislature this week

DFLers are committed to providing a clean future

Climate scientists are only giving us 10 years to make true systematic changes to counteract the dangerous effects of climate change. To do their part the Senate DFL is prioritizing making investments in a green economy within Minnesota to protect the things that make Minnesota a great place to live. Read more >>

Governor Walz releases revisions to the budget proposal

Governor Tim Walz released revisions to his budget proposal following a significant change in the state’s fiscal outlook in the February 2021 budget forecast. Governor Walz released an initial budget proposal on January 26, based upon the November budget forecast projection of a $1.3 billion budget shortfall. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 12, 2021

Investing in our schools and students
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Investing in our schools and students

Senate DFLers held a press conference this week to highlight the need of fully investing in our students and schools so that our education system supports all students, regardless of their race, zip code, or economic status. In a year when so many are recovering from the effects of COVID-19, we need to not only invest in our current system but improve it for the better. Read more >>

DFLers push to include workers, students in business tax relief bill

The Senate passed bipartisan legislation Thursday to match the federal government’s tax-exclusion for forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans received by businesses in 2020. About 102,400 businesses received $11.3 billion worth of loans in Minnesota. Typically, forgiven loans are taxable at the state and federal level, but Congress made special exceptions last year. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in Review: February 12, 2021

PROTECTING DEMOCRACY
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Senate DFL members hold press conference calling on Senate to pass SR 21

A violent attack took place on January 6of this year at the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. leading to five deaths and over 50 injuries. This attack took place during the process of final certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election and represented a direct attack on American democracy. Read more >>

DFLers prepare to ensure Minnesotans’ safety

Extraordinary events across the nation over the last year have highlighted the reality that emergency situations can happen anywhere and at any time, often with little notice. The state of Minnesota has a Disaster Contingency Account to help local communities recover from natural disasters and unforeseen circumstances. Read more >>

Senate DFL Week in Review: January 28, 2021

Governor’s budget proposal unveiled
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Governor Walz announces COVID-19 recovery budget

Minnesota lawmakers are constitutionally required to set a 2022-2023 budget before June 30 this year, and Governor Walz took the first step in this process this week by announcing his budget priorities. The proposal is focused on helping Minnesotans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by investing in schools and students, businesses, and working families. Read more >>

Senate DFLWeek in Review: January 15, 2021

Senate DFL encourages Minnesotans to avoid the Capitol

Following the assault on the U.S. Capitol, reports have surfaced of the potential of white nationalist and far-right groups instigating violence at state capitols throughout the country — including at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, over the next few days through the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden. Read more >>

Legislature receives an update on vaccination planning and rollout

This week the Aging and Long-Term Care Policy and Health and Human Services Committees heard updates on Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. This week Minnesota has been steadily working through Phase 1a of vaccinations, which includes health care workers and long-term care residents and staff. Read more >>

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