The Week at a Glance
COVID-19: Cases are climbing again in Minnesota. Seven-day rolling average is 1050 cases per day. Positive test rate is 3.6%. Over 1.3 million Minnesotans have received at least one vaccine dose.
Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm are all in quarantine following a presumed exposure to COVID-19.
Senate Republicans released their two-year budget proposal. Governor Walz introduced a revised budget plan.
Last Weekend
Saturday, March 13: via Jessie Van Berkel of Star Tribune, Minnesota legislators debate eviction ban 'off-ramp' as tenants fear homelessness. Tens of thousands of Minnesota households are behind on rent due to the pandemic.
Sunday, March 14: In a Facebook post, Congressman Pete Stauber implied that he does not have intentions of running for Governor. "Minnesota is suffering from failed leadership and I look forward to supporting someone who can not only beat Tim Walz but move us forward and help return our state to greatness,” said Stauber.
Key Events, Court Rulings & Executive Branch Developments
Monday, March 15: Grants from the American Rescue Plan are a lifeline for Duluth businesses and tourism industry, reports Brooks Johnson of Star Tribune.
Monday, March 15: via Bernadette Heier of KEYC, Job numbers decreased by 7% in Mankato in January, according to the Department of Economic Development. Manufacturing experienced the largest decline, with jobs down 10.5%.
Monday, March 15: “Major rollback” of coronavirus restrictions go into effect on Monday, allowing bars, restaurants, and gyms to open at larger capacities.
Monday, March 15: Former Senator Matt Little is rumored to be considering a run for Dakota County Attorney following the news of County Attorney James Backstrom’s retirement.
Tuesday, March 16: Defense seeks delay in trial of former officer Derek Chauvin after Minneapolis City Council unanimously approves $27 million settlement with the family of George Floyd.
Tuesday, March 16: Minnesota GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan criticized Senator Amy Klobuchar in an online statement, calling the American Rescue Plan “liberal payout disguised as COVID relief.”
Tuesday, March 16: Richard Painter, who ran for Senate in 2018, is exploring a bid for Governor on the Reform ticket.
Wednesday, March 17: Judge Peter Cahill, the man who presides over the trial of George Floyd, receives praise for his fairness and independence from all sides of the political spectrum.
Thursday, March 18: Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, and Department of Health Commissioner Malcolm are all in quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure. Congresswoman Angie Craig, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Tina Smith were also in attendance for the press conference during which the COVID-19 exposure occurred, but all four of them have been vaccinated.
Friday, March 19: Blois Olson of WCCO speaks with candidates for Mayor of Minneapolis on Beers with Blois.
Friday, March 19: Governor Walz released a revised budget plan that includes fewer tax increases than his original proposal.
Update from the Minnesota Legislature
Monday, March 15: A joint convention of the House and Senate convened to elect members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The legislature elected four new board members, including two women. There are now five women on the 12-member board.
Monday, March 15: Senator Julia Coleman (R-Chanhassen) and Rep. Greg Boe (R-Chanhassen) introduced bills to rename a seven-mile section of Highway 5 after pop legend Prince.
Monday, March 15: The Minnesota Legislative Salary Council approved a 4% pay raise for Minnesota legislators over the next four years.
Tuesday, March 16: via Mark Freie of WCCO, Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) and Senator Dave Osmek (R-Mound) introduced SF 4, a bill that would “require legislative approval to extend executive peacetime emergency powers beyond 30 days.” Minnesota is one of 48 states whose Governor has declared a peacetime emergency.
Tuesday, March 16: House Republicans attempting to force a floor vote on SF 263, a bill to prevent tax hikes on Minnesota businesses that received PPP loans, were blocked by Democrats on Tuesday. The same bill recently passed the Senate with a veto-proof majority.
Wednesday, March 17: Senate Republicans released their two-year budget proposal on Tuesday, a $51.9 billion plan that features no tax increases.
Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, via press release: “This budget funds our Minnesota Priorities to balance the budget without raising taxes, recover from COVID, and support Minnesota families.”
Speaker Melissa Hortman, via Star Tribune: “The proposed Senate Republican budget targets are woefully inadequate.”
Wednesday, March 17: via Karin Scullin of Fox 9, the House Transportation Committee passed a bill authored by Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL-St. Cloud) to implement $300 fines for drivers who blow by stop arms on school buses. Revenue from the fines would be used to pay for cameras on school buses to capture videos of drivers who run through stop arms. Supporters say the proposal would help keep students safe; opponents point to privacy violations for drivers.
Wednesday, March 17: Via Jessica Miles of KSTP, Educators ask lawmakers to help 21-year-old students set to age out of high school.
Wednesday, March 17: Rep. Steve Elkins (DFL-Bloomington) introduces ranked-choice voting bill with 40 co-authors.
Thursday, March 18: Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) issued an urgent plea to Governor Walz, encouraging him to push the House to pass tax relief for businesses who received PPP loans.
Thursday, March 18: The House Industrial Education and Economic Development Committee approved a bill authored by Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL-International Falls) which would allocate $120 million for rural broadband development.
Thursday, March 18: Senate Republicans push for the statue of Christopher Columbus, which was toppled by demonstrators last summer, to be put back up outside the Capitol.
Friday, March 19: via press release, “On Monday, the Senate Education Committee heard Senator Julia Coleman’s (R-Chanhassen) bill which seeks to re-up funding to make online suicide prevention training available for teachers across the state. The training will help teachers identify students in need and give them the confidence to properly intervene.”
Congressional Delegation Update
Monday, March 15: via press release, Senator Amy Klobuchar introduces the Speeding Therapy Access Today (STAT) Act, a policy reform for the FDA that will “accelerate the development of therapies for rare diseases and disorders.”
Monday, March 15: via press release, Congresswoman Angie Craig and members of the House Rural Broadband Task Force introduced the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act.
Tuesday, March 16: via press release, “Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that she has been named Chair of the Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee.”
Tuesday, March 16: via press release, Congressman Dean Phillips will join the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Wednesday, March 17: via press release, “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) led 26 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Keeping Critical Connections Act to help small broadband providers ensure rural broadband connectivity for students and their families during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Wednesday, March 17: Senator Tina Smith and Senator Lisa Murkowski introduce the Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act.
Wednesday, March 17: Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, held a hearing on the role of the Department of Defense in combating climate change in the arctic.
Wednesday, March 17: Congressman Dean Phillips sends letter in support of Minnesota Clean Cars Rule.
Wednesday, March 17: In separate press releases, Congressman Tom Emmer and Congressman Jim Hagedorn express their support for the PPP Extension Act.
Thursday, March 18: via press release, every member of the Minnesota Congressional delegation “urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to revisit the agency’s decision to partially deny the state’s request for a waiver regarding MinnesotaCare, the state’s Basic Health Program (BHP). In 2016, Minnesota was one of the first states to apply for a Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver to establish a reinsurance program to ensure more Minnesotans have access to affordable, quality health care. However, the waiver request was only partially approved.”
Thursday, March 18: U.S. House passed the Violence Against Women Act, which included a new amendment authored by Congressman Dean Phillips.
Friday, March 19: via press release, “Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that she has joined the Bipartisan Working Group, an organization of Republican and Democratic Members of Congress who are dedicated to working together to advance bipartisan legislation and foster dialogue between both sides of the aisle.”
Friday, March 19: via press release, “Today, Vice Chair Dean Phillips (MN-03) and his colleagues on the Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining an agenda for bipartisan, bicameral legislation in the 117th Congress.”