#Senator Steve Drazkowski | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

beardedmrbean · 1 year

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Minnesota schools are poised to offer free lunches and breakfasts to all students under a bill passed by the state Senate on Tuesday.

The Senate approved the free school meals bill on a bipartisan 38-26 vote. It now heads back to the House, where the bill already has passed but must be taken up again because its language was amended.

"We shouldn't make children pay the price or go hungry in school for problems that are out of their control," said state Sen. Heather Gustafson, DFL-Vadnais Heights, the bill's sponsor. "Look at it like a lunchbox tax cut. It gives money back to families."

Gustafson estimated that a family living in White Bear Lake with two students would save nearly $1,900 each school year if they received the daily free meals.

Providing free lunch and breakfast to all students regardless of their family income is expected to cost about $200 million annually. Minnesota lawmakers have a $17.5 billion surplus on the bottom line to fund their priorities this year.

The bill could provide relief to Minnesota families who don't qualify for free or reduced-price school meals but still struggle to pay out of pocket for them.

Hunger Solutions, a school nutrition advocacy group, estimates that one in six Minnesota students are food insecure. Of those students, 25% are from households that don't qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

"There are some very real needs out there that this will help to address," said Sen. Jim Abeler, a Republican from Anoka who joined Democrats to vote for the bill. "Some might say that it helps a few who may not need the help, but actually I'm OK with that. There are a lot of pressures on a lot of families that this will take a load off of. They can invest their money elsewhere."

Supporters say giving students access to free school meals will help them perform better in the classroom because they won't be hungry. Critics have expressed concern about the bill's price tag, saying the state should provide free school meals only to those who struggle to afford them.

"This bill is going far beyond and saying that '100% of Minnesota students will get this assistance,'" said Sen. Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, who tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill Tuesday to impose a $500,000 annual income cutoff.

Several Republicans criticized Democrats for not directing the roughly $200 million in annual funding toward other pressing school needs.

Sen. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, said the money should be invested in efforts to improve reading, math and science proficiency.

GOP Sen. Zach Duckworth of Lakeville co-sponsored the bill although he shared his colleagues' concerns about its cost. But Duckworth voted to approve the bill, saying the benefits outweigh its flaws.

"I'm forced to ask myself, 'When it comes to the bill as it stands, does it do more good than bad?' " Duckworth said. "And to that I'd say, 'Let's feed our kids.' "

DFL Gov. Tim Walz included the universal school meals policy in his budget proposal earlier this year. He is expected to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

#nunyas news

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hasanyoneseenmyspoons · 1 year

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As the Minnesota state senate debated a bill meant to provide more free school meals to kids living in poverty, one Republican senator’s rationale for voting against it was simple: those kids don’t exist.  While many of his GOP colleagues argued against the cost of Senate Bill 12—$200 million annually—State Sen. Steve Drazkowski cast doubt on the idea that hungry families exist in his state at all.  “I have yet to meet a person in Minnesota that says they don’t have access to enough food to eat,” State Sen. Steve Drazkowski said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “We need to make sure, if we’re going to develop more food welfare programs, and force them on the kids and families in the state of Minnesota, we got to make sure that they’re not at least riddled with the type of fraud that basically is stealing from the people of Minnesota.”  Drazkowski, who served the state House for 13 years prior to being elected to the Senate in 2022, called the measure “pure socialism” and part of the state’s attempt to control what kids eat. He mocked the idea of hungry kids, adding that the term “hunger” is relative.

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notjustanyannie · 1 year

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egregious1942 · 1 year

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OUT OF TOUCH?

Minnesota Republican votes against free school meals bill because ‘I have yet to meet a person in Minnesota that is hungry’ Joshua Zitser Mar 15, 2023, 6:00 AM Minnesota State Senator Steve Drazkowski speaks on the floor of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul on March 14, 2023. Minnesota State media Services Sen. Steve Drazkowski made the remarks on the floor of the Minnesota State…

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chaoticwastelandthing · 1 year

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#republicans are evil #GOP

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watchyourrepsmn-blog · 7 years

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MN Action Alert for Week of May 8th

If this was forwarded to you and you would like to receive these alerts via email, please sign up here.

This post contains a “Top Hits” list. These are the bills that have hearings scheduled or are going to the house or senate floor for a vote.

Once you are done with the “Top Hits” you may want to peruse the full list of bills to support and oppose.

You can find the full text of bills by going to https://www.leg.state.mn.us/, selecting Bills, then searching the House and Senate bills by the listed bill number. You can find your representative and senator at the Minnesota Legislature District Finder.

What to do: For each alert check the member list. If your representative is on the list, please reach out to them. If not, reach out to the chair. If your rep is one of the authors, reach out to them and let them know how you feel about their bill (good or bad). If the status of a bill says it’s going to the house/senate for a vote call your representative/senator and the governor. You don’t need to go into detail, you can simply state that you oppose / support the bill.

Call the Governor

SF580 / HF 600 – Preemption bill that takes control to set minimum wage and other worker requirements away from cities and puts that power only at the state level. Different areas have different costs of living and different needs and should be able to set their local ordinances accordingly. There are slight differences between the House and Senate version that will go to conference committee, but both bills take away local control. Governor Dayton is hedging on whether he will veto this bill. He says it’s complex and he needs to see it first. Please urge him to veto this bill.

SF702/HF809 & SF704/HF812 – A couple of anti-abortion bills. The governor has indicated he will veto these bills, please call and let him know you support the veto.

Votes in the House

The following bills have cleared committee and, while they have not been schedule for a full vote yet, they could be voted on at any time. Please call your district representative.

Oppose

HF390 –Another anti-protestor bill. This one would increase penalties for obstructing traffic/transit to a misdemeanor with up to 3 years in prison. This bill has been added to the Public Safety Omnibus SF803 HF1066 –Anti-protestor bill. Increase penalties for obstructing a road. These bills are specifically targeted against protests that use civil disobedience techniques. This bill has been added to the Public Safety Omnibus SF803 HF2058 – Makes it more expensive to build light-rail systems by removing eminent domain exceptions just for light-rail (not for any other types of transportation)

HF729 - Elections Omnibus Bill. Limits the dates when a city, town or school district can hold a special election. All allowable dates are on Tuesdays eliminating any possibility for an area to decide to do a weekend election when turnout would be higher.

Votes in the Senate

Oppose

SF1395 and SF1693 – Both undermine enforcement of the riparian buffer rule. Riparian buffers are land buffers along waterways that help to keep chemicals and things like farm fertilizer runoff from entering the waterways and streams. SF1490 - Numerous changes to the Metropolitan Council. Specific anti-mass transit provision that prevents the council from undertaking light rail projects (and only light rail) without the legislature approving it.

SF676 - Anti-protestor bill. This one would increase penalties for obstructing traffic/transit to a misdemeanor with up to 3 years in prison. SF1693 - Undermines enforcement of the riparian buffer rule. Riparian buffers are land buffers along waterways that help to keep chemicals and things like farm fertilizer runoff from entering the waterways and streams.

SF1395 – Similar to SF1693. Undermines enforcement of the riparian buffer rule. Riparian buffers are land buffers along waterways that help to keep chemicals and things like farm fertilizer runoff from entering the waterways and streams.

SF1490 - Numerous changes to the Metropolitan Council. Specific anti-mass transit provision that prevents the council from undertaking light rail projects (and only light rail) without the legislature approving it.

SF514 - Elections Omnibus Bill. This bill contains two bad clauses. One will create a provisional ballot system in Minnesota. Since we have same day voter registration we are exempt from having a provisional ballot system. Instead of resolving voter issues on election day, voters will instead have to cast provisional ballots that may or may not be counted. This is unnecessary. The second clause would make election judge party affiliation public information. This role is non-partisan and this appears to be a change that would allow judicial decisions to be called into question for political gain.

Support

SF445 – Crisis response, conflict management, and diversity training required for all police officers

Monday May 8th

HF1866 – Reorganizes the Metropolitan Council including changing its board makeup and micromanaging its expenses. Additionally, there is an anti-mass transit provision that prevents the council from undertaking light rail projects (and only light rail) without the legislature approving it. This is attempt by the MN GOP to preempt the authority of the Met and control its decision making via legislation. The Senate version of this has already passed committee and is waiting for a vote. They are also putting this language in the Transportation omnibus, so they are pushing to pass this from multiple angles.

Hearing Time: Not specified. It will be whenever the chair calls the meeting after the 10am floor session

Committee: Ways and Means http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=90027

Chair: Jim Knoblach

Members:

Bob Vogel, Lyndon Carlson, Sarah Anderson, Dave Baker, Tony Cornish, Greg Davids, Matt Dean, Bob Dettmer, Steve Drazkowski, Dan Fabian, Pat Garofalo, Bob Gunther, Rod Hamilton, Alice Hausman, Debra Hilstrom, Frank Hornstein, Tina Liebling, Jenifer Loon, Paul Marquart, Erin Murphy, Bud Nornes, Gene Pelowski, Jeanne Poppe, Paul Torkelson, Dean Urdahl, Jean Wagenius

HF2621 (SUPPORT) – Increases penalties for female genital mutilation and allows parents and guardians to be held criminally liable.

Hearing Time: Not specified. It will be 30 minutes after the 10am floor session

Committee: Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance

Chair: Tony Cornish

Members:

Brian Johnson, Debra Hilstrom, Jamie Becker-Finn, John Considine, Raymond Dehn, Keith Franke, Matt Grossell, Jeff Howe, Kathy Lohmer, Eric Lucero, Jim Newberger, Marion O’Neill, Dave Pinto, JoAnn Ward, Zick Zerwas

Tuesday – Friday

Nothing I’m monitoring has a hearing scheduled yet for these dates

Omnibus Bills

Negotiations between the GOP and the governor on the omnibus bills are happening, but for the most part meetings are not being scheduled. You can find the list of omnibus bills with bad provisions here. It can be a lot of dig through, so if you are looking for a single message than please call the governor (651-201-3400) and let him know you support a budget that fully funds programs and services and that you will not accept cuts to services to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.

Additionally, please pick an issue or two from what we know about the omnibus bills listed to talk to the governor about. If a bill isn’t listed, it’s because I have no information about the current conference committee version. You can also continue to call the members of the conference committee

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#actionalert

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gehayi · 7 years

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2017 Anti-Trans Bathroom Bills

Here are the texts of the eight bathroom bills currently before state legislatures:

Alabama Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator Phillip W. Williams (Republican). The bill calls for an attendant to be "stationed at the door of each rest room to monitor the appropriate use of the rest room and answer any questions or 14 concerns posed by users.” The bill calls for a $2,000 fine on all first-time violators and for each subsequent violation to cost $3,500. It also creates automatic cause of action for any aggrieved bigot, making a noncompliant business liable for “any actual damages sustained by the person or entity, or the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is greater,” and up to three times the actual damages as punitive damages.

Oh, and the objective of this bill is to prevent individuals who might commit “voyeurism, exhibitionism, molestation, and assault and battery” from gaining access to bathrooms.Yes, this is part of the text.

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Kentucky House Bill 106, sponsored by Representative Rick Nelson (Democrat). Demands six times over that all state and local government bathrooms, all bathrooms under the jurisdiction of a board of higher education, and all college and university bathrooms “ only be used by persons based on their biological sex.”

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Minnesota House Bill 41, sponsored by Representatives Duane Quam (Republican), Steve Drazkowski (Republican), Eric Lucero (Republican), and Glenn Gruenhagen (Republican). Requires “all school restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, and changing rooms for use by multiple students be designated for and used by male or female students only. Defines sex as being determined by chromosomes and sex assigned at birth.” Allows for separate accommodations under “special circumstances. “

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Missouri Senate Bill 98, sponsored by Senator Ed Emery (Republican). States that “a student who asserts to school officials that his or her gender is different from his or her biological sex may be provided with alternative restroom, locker room, or shower room accommodations, provided that a parent or legal guardian of a minor child who makes such assertion shall provide written consent to use of such alternative accommodations. Such accommodations shall not include the use of student restrooms, locker rooms, or shower rooms designated for use by students of the opposite biological sex. Acceptable accommodations may include but are not limited to access to single-stall restrooms, unisex restrooms, or controlled use of faculty restrooms, locker rooms, or shower rooms.”

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South Carolina House Bill 3012, sponsored by Representatives Steven Long (Republican) and Josiah Magnuson (Republican--erroneously listed as “Roy Magnuson” on the bill). states that “[a] local government or other political subdivision in this State may not enact local laws, ordinances, orders, or other regulations that require a place of public accommodation or a private club or other establishment, not in fact open to the general public, to allow a person to use a multiple occupancy bathroom or changing facility regardless of the person's biological sex.” This bill also says that such a law, ordinance, etc. "does not constitute discrimination based upon a protected category.”

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Texas Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senators Lois Kolkhorst (Republican) and Charles Perry (Republican). Incredibly detailed, with lots of civil and criminal penalties for any facility allowing people access to bathrooms, changing rooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, etc. that are for the opposite of the sex on their birth certificates. As an example: “A school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision that violates this chapter is liable for a civil penalty of: (1) not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for the first violation; and (2) not less than $10,000 and not more than $10,500 for the second or a subsequent violation. (b) Each day of a continuing violation of this chapter constitutes a separate violation.”

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Virginia House Bill 1612, sponsored by Delegates Robert Marshall (Republican) and Mark Cole (Republican). This one, like Missouri’s bill, goes for the “separate but equal accommodations” doctrine that was thrown out by Brown vs. Board of Education. It also deems being in a public bathroom with a person whose birth certificate states that they are of a different sex to be a civil action called “invasion of physical privacy.” And it also has this charming little detail--parental notification:

The principal of a public school attended by a child shall notify the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian, or other person having control or charge of a child within 24 hours of any request by a child to be recognized or treated as the opposite sex, to use a name or pronouns inconsistent with the child's sex, or to use a restroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex.

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Washington House Bill 1011, sponsored by FIFTEEN Republican Representatives and one Democrat: David Taylor, Matt Shea, Bob McCaslin, Jesse Young, Bradley Klippert, Jim Walsh (he’s the Dem), Larry Haler, Shelly Short, Matt Manweller, Mark Hargrove, Liz Pike, Jeff Holy, Jay Rodne, Vincent Buys, John Koster, and Joe Schmick. This one is odd because it’s tied to an anti-discrimination bill. Here’s the pertinent part:

(4) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a public or private entity from limiting access to a private facility segregated by gender, such as a bathroom, restroom, toilet, shower, locker room, or sauna, to a person if the person is preoperative, nonoperative, or otherwise has genitalia of a different gender from that for which the facility is segregated. Nothing in this chapter grants any right to a person to access a private facility segregated by gender, such as a bathroom, restroom, toilet, shower, locker room, or sauna, of a public or private entity if the person is preoperative, nonoperative, or otherwise has genitalia of a different gender from that for which the facility is segregated.

The next paragraph explains that the above doesn’t apply to minor children or disabled people in the care of parents, guardians, supervisors or caretakers.

I’ve provided links to the sponsors’ public pages, all of which have contact addresses, phone numbers, emails, and, in some cases, their Twitters and/or the emails of key members of their staffs...just in case anyone wants to try to persuade them to change their minds.

#anti-trans bills #anti-lgbtq bills #bathroom bills #please don't threaten them #it isn't funny and it won't do any good

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viralhottopics · 7 years

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Meanwhile, in Obamacare: Republican disarray follows Trumps first order | Jessica Glenza

In Philadelphia, congressmen fretted. In Washington, an attack on ads met outrage. And in Minnesota, a provision had to be withdrawn amid outcry

Donald Trump has been in office for just a week, but Republican attempts to rip up and reassemble the American healthcare system have subsided into disagreement, backtracking and public outrage.

At a GOP retreat in Philadelphia this week, audio of a closed-door policy session captured disagreement among rank-and-file members over how to reform the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known to many as Obamacare. Some worried that the party was about to pull the rug out from people, potentially leaving millions without any insurance at all.

In Washington, the White House was forced to abandon part of a plan to end all advertisements warning Americans about an approaching enrollment deadline.

And in Minnesota, a Republican plan to make 68 essential health benefits optional under a reformed healthcare provision was left out of legislation, after a public outcry.

On his arrival in the Oval Office, Trump signed an executive order to begin the unraveling of the ACA, instructing federal agencies to take any measures available to ease the burdens of Obamacare. Developments since highlight the political minefield Republicans have created for themselves, particularly after Trump, consistently inconsistent, promised both insurance for everyone and ACA repeal.

The leaked recording from Philadelphia revealed how some party members worried about political fallout, according to the Washington Post.

Were telling those people that were not going to pull the rug out from under them, said Tom MacArthur of New Jersey. And if we do this too fast, we are in fact going to pull the rug out from under them.

Though Republicans have produced several plans to replace Barack Obamas signature healthcare reform, no plan has emerged as a frontrunner. Senators Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy; the House speaker, Paul Ryan; and Representative Tom Price, Trumps nominee for secretary of health and human services; have all introduced their thoughts.

Lena Dunham (@lenadunham)

Inspired by @captdope, here’s a commercial for HEALTH INSURANCE. https://t.co/e8KpWkyQz1– get what’s yours #pullthisad http://pic.twitter.com/LcJP9GdnbU

January 28, 2017

Over the weekend, the Trump administration was forced to stop attempts to pull $5m in taxpayer-funded advertisements that encourage people to sign up for health insurance under the ACA before a 31 January deadline.

Alarmed, many people, including celebrities, posted their own advertisements online, protesting and warning fellow Americans. About $4m in ads were pulled, Politico reported. Emails, messages, ads on Twitter and automated calls will continue.

Republicans in Minnesota also did a quick about-face following outrage over a legislative amendment that would have allowed insurers to sell policies under which benefits such as maternity coverage would be optional.

Widely circulated text of the amendment showed that maternity care, mental health care and addiction treatment would be covered a la carte. All are key areas of health coverage included in all health plans under the ACA.

Andy Slavitt, former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid under Obama, has become a passionate public voice in defense of the ACA.

Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt)

Next time an “ACA replace” package claims it allows “patient choice,” understand what they intend to exclude. This just passed the MN house. http://pic.twitter.com/WKaK85s99w

January 24, 2017

He said: Every time I hear someone some male congressman or assembly person say, Why should I have to pay for maternity coverage?, it just makes me want to think about, Well, you were born, werent you? Didnt your mother need maternity coverage?

Minnesota Republicans pitched their attack on health benefits as an issue of personal freedom, meant to allow choiceof lower-cost healthcare for people who believe they dont need, for example, mental health care or addiction treatment. The bill was reportedlypulled after dozens of outraged phone calls and emails to the state legislature.

Before the amendment was pulled, sponsor Steve Drazkowski claimed that he received hundreds of compliments from people, though notably few from the special interest groups who have really amalgamated around government.

Many of them are not interested in this, he said.

Read more: http://ift.tt/2kgYtHV

from Meanwhile, in Obamacare: Republican disarray follows Trumps first order | Jessica Glenza

#Meanwhile #in Obamacare: Republican disarray follows Trumps first order | Jessica Glenza

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sataniccapitalist · 1 year

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watchyourrepsmn-blog · 7 years

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MN Action Alert for April 17th

If you would like to receive these alerts via email, please sign up here. Updates: HF812 – Anti-abortion bill added to Wednesday SF800 – Health and Human Services Omnibus added to Wednesday HF890 – Education Finance Omnibus added to Wednesday HF888 – Environmental Omnibus added to Wednesday HF004 – Taxes Omnibus added to Wednesday HF861 – Transportation Finance Omnibus added to Wednesday SF803 – Public Safety Omnibus added to Thursday SF605 – State Government Finance Omnibus added to Friday This post contains a “Top Hits” list. These are the bills that have hearings scheduled or are going to the house or senate floor for a vote. Once you are done with the “Top Hits” you may want to peruse the full list of bills to support and oppose. You can find the full text of bills by going to https://www.leg.state.mn.us/, selecting Bills, then searching the House and Senate bills by the listed bill number. You can find your representative and senator at the Minnesota Legislature District Finder. With the holiday not many meetings have been schedule yet. When the legislators get back Tuesday I expect schedules to start filling up quickly. There’s only about a month left to the legislative session and a lot of work to do. What to do: For each alert check the member list. If your representative is on the list, please reach out to them. If not, reach out to the chair. If your rep is one of the authors, reach out to them and let them know how you feel about their bill (good or bad). If the status of a bill says it’s going to the house/senate for a vote call your representative/senator and the governor. You don’t need to go into detail, you can simply state that you oppose / support the bill.

Votes in the House

The following bills have cleared committee and, while they have not been schedule for a full vote yet, they could be voted on at any time. Please call your district representative. Oppose HF390 –Another anti-protestor bill. This one would increase penalties for obstructing traffic/transit to a misdemeanor with up to 3 years in prison. This bill has been added to the Public Safety Omnibus SF803 HF1066 –Anti-protestor bill. Increase penalties for obstructing a road. These bills are specifically targeted against protests that use civil disobedience techniques. This bill has been added to the Public Safety Omnibus SF803 HF2058 – Makes it more expensive to build light-rail systems by removing eminent domain exceptions just for light-rail (not for any other types of transportation) HF809 – Anti-abortion bill. Limits funds for even medically necessary abortions (the only type funded through the state) for anyone on a state-sponsored health plan. No exceptions for rape, incest, health of the mother or viability of the fetus. Also, includes language to make it harder for the judiciary to overrule the entire bill if any one part is found unconstitutional. HF1245 - Children and Family Services Omnibus. Contains many changes to SNAP benefits and the work training program requirements. Makes work training voluntary but limits those who do not do work training to 3 months of benefits in every 3 years. This wouldn't be too bad but it also removes several exemptions to work training including those 55+, students, people in treatment, and the working poor (people already employed 30+ hours a week). Under the new bill only the disabled, under 18, and those with dependents are exempt from work training requirements. These other groups should still be exempt from work training requirements.

Votes in the Senate

The following bills have cleared committee and, while they have not been schedule for a full vote yet, they could be voted on at any time. In the Senate, a bill can be put on a “special order” list and voted on with almost no notice so please do not wait for a scheduled vote. Call your district senator. Oppose SF580 – Anti-worker law that would prevent cities and localities from setting their own min wage, family leave policies, etc. This will undo the recent min wage increase approved in Minneapolis. SF676 - Anti-protestor bill. This one would increase penalties for obstructing traffic/transit to a misdemeanor with up to 3 years in prison. SF702 – Anti-abortion bill. This one would stop state-sponsored health programs from covering an abortion even if it is medically necessary (there’s no exceptions for health of the mother, health of the fetus, rape, or incest). SF1395 and SF1693 – Both undermine enforcement of the riparian buffer rule. Riparian buffers are land buffers along waterways that help to keep chemicals and things like farm fertilizer runoff from entering the waterways and streams. SF1291 - Children and Family Services Omnibus (Senate Version). Contains many changes to SNAP benefits and the work training program requirements. Makes work training voluntary but limits those who do not do work training to 3 months of benefits in every 3 years. This wouldn't be too bad but it also removes several exemptions to work training including those 55+, students, people in treatment, and the working poor (people already employed 30+ hours a week). Under the new bill only the disabled, under 18, and those with dependents are exempt from work training requirements. These other groups should still be exempt from work training requirements. SF1490 - Numerous changes to the Metropolitan Council. Specific anti-mass transit provision that prevents the council from undertaking light rail projects (and only light rail) without the legislature approving it. Support SF445 – Crisis response, conflict management, and diversity training required for all police officers

Wednesday April 19th

HF707 – Legacy Funding Finance omnibus bill. The House bill passed and was sent to the Senate where they will take it up in committee. This version of the bill cuts 12% ($16.5 million) from the Clean Water Fund. Push to retain that funding Hearing Time: 8:30am Committee: Finance http://www.senate.mn/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1007&ls= Chair: Julie Rosen Members: Michelle Fischbach, Richard Cohen, Michelle Benson, Bill Ingebrigtsen, John Marty, Torrey Westrom, Bobby Champion, Warren Limmer, Carla Nelson, Chris Eaton, Tony Lourey, Scott Newman SF800 – Health and Human Service Omnibus. This is a walk-through meeting for the conference committee. We want to ensure the following things do not end up in the bill: 1. Delayed payments to Medical Assistance providers to make it look like money was saved this year. The delay will cause a hardship for providers who may have to borrow money to cover costs while waiting to be paid. 2. Cuts to hospital funding expected to have a particularly negative impact in rural MN 3. Elimination of MNSure 4. Increased premiums for MinnesotaCare Hearing time: 10:00am Committee: Conference Committee http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90012 Chairs: Senator Michelle Benson and Representative Matt Dean Members: House: Dean, Schomacker, Kiel, Albright, Schultz Senate: Benson, Abeler, Housley, Utke, Lourey HF890 – Education Finance Omnibus. This is a walk-through meeting in the conference committee. One version of the bill eliminates the pre-K program and underfunds public education. We want a fully funded pre-k program and education funding to keep up with projected growth. Hearing Time: 11:30 am Committee: Conference Committee http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90006 Chairs: Representative Jenifer Loon and Senator Carla Nelson Members: House: Loon, Erickson, Kresha, Bennett, Murphy M Senate: Nelson, Pratt, Weber, Eichorn, Wiger HF888 – Environmental and Natural Resources Omnibus. This is a walk-through meeting in the conference committee. A version of this bill guts the Environmental Quality Board and allows companies to draft their own environmental impact assessments. It adds loopholes to compliance with riparian buffer requirements (which protect the water supply from farm run off) and prohibits lead shot bans (I’m not a fan of bans, but I also don’t believe in taking tools of the table. Lead poisoning of raptors and scavengers is a big issue). Hearing Time: 1:00 pm Chairs: Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen and Representative Dan Fabian Members: House: Fabian, Heintzeman, Swedzinski, Uglem, Ecklunc Senate: Ingebrigtsen, Ruud, Westrom, Mathews, Tomassoni HF812 – Anti-abortion bill. Attempts to shut down abortion facilities by requiring them to be licensed similar to an outpatient surgery center, including random, no notice, inspections. Also includes a fee of $3,712 annually. Hearing Time: 2:00 pm Committee: Ways and Means (generally the last stop before a floor vote) http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=90027 Chair: Jim Knoblach Members: Bob Vogel, Lyndon Carlson, Sarah Anderson, Dave Baker, Tony Cornish, Greg Davids, Matt Dean, Bob Dettmer, Steve Drazkowski, Dan Fabian, Pat Garofalo, Bob Gunther, Rod Hamilton, Alice Hausman, Debra Hilstrom, Frank Hornstein, Tina Liebling, Jenifer Loon, Paul Marquart, Erin Murphy, Bud Nornes, Gene Pelowski, Jeanne Poppe, Paul Torkelson, Dean Urdahl, Jean Wagenius HF004 – Taxes Omnibus. This is a walk-through meeting with the conference committee. Overall the tax bill almost completely wipes out the surplus with tax cuts. It also contains a controversial provision that would route tax dollars to charter schools via a tax credit for donations to foundations that provide scholarships to charter schools. Hearing Time: 3:00 pm Committee: Conference Committee http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90023 Chairs: Senator Roger Chamberlain and Representative Greg Davids Members: House: Davids, Drazkowski, McDonald, Hertaus, Marquart Senate: Chamberlain, Senjem, Miller, Dahms, Rest HF861 – Transportation Finance Omnibus. This cuts public transportation funds in the Twin Cities by 40%, eliminates the southwest light rail project and cuts all state funding for light-rail projects. Basically, it’s extremely hostile to public transportation. We need a good and well-funded transit system in the city to accommodate growth and mobility for people who cannot afford cars. Additionally, light rail has a lower per person subsidy than buses so it does not make financial sense to cut rail. Hearing Time: 3:30 pm Committee: Conference Committee http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90025 Chairs: Senator Scott Newman and Representative Paul Torkelson Members: House: Torkelson, Petersburg, Howe, Runbeck, Koznick Senate: Newman, Jasinski, Kiffmeyer, Osmek, Sparks

Thursday April 20th

HF890 – Education Finance Omnibus. One version of the bill eliminates the pre-K program and under funds public education. We want a fully funded pre-k program and education funding to keep up with projected growth. Hearing Time: 1:00 pm Committee: Conference Committee http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90006 Chairs: Representative Jenifer Loon and Senator Carla Nelson Members: House: Loon, Erickson, Kresha, Bennett, Murphy M Senate: Nelson, Pratt, Weber, Eichorn, Wiger SF803 – Public Safety Omnibus. Controversial provisions would allow the state to use for profit, private, prisons. Prisons should be focused on rehabilitation not keeping beds full to maximize profits. Also contains two anti-protestor provisions, one that increases charges for obstruction of a highway or near an airport and one for blocking transit. New penalty would be a gross misdemeanor which is up to 1 year in prison. The United States has a long history of protests based in civil disobedience, from the Boston Tea Party to Selma. A year in prison is excessive. Additionally, according to the House information service, this bill adds cannabinoids to the Schedule I drug list (which means they are addictive and have no approved medical uses). I'm not sure what impact this would have on Minnesota's medical marijuana laws, but this scheduling is simply inaccurate and not based in fact. Hearing Time: 2:00 pm Committee: Conference Committee Chairs: Senator Warren Limmer and Representative Tony Cornish Members: House: Cornish, Johnson, Zerwas, Scott, Hilstrom Senate: Limmer, Anderson B, Johnson, Latz, Relph

Friday April 21st

SF605 – State Government Finance Omnibus. Contains several bad clauses. First, when the legislature is not in session, currently if they do not make a ruling on a collective bargaining agreement within 30 days that agreement will automatically be approved. Now they have to wait until the committee actually approves the agreement which could delay this for months. Second, limits the number of full-time equivalent employees in all executive branch agencies to 31,691. The number of employees should be flexible with the amount of work that need to be done, not some arbitrary cap that may shorthand agencies and make it harder for them to perform their jobs and serve the community. This is a list of state agencies that fall under the executive branch http://mn.gov/portal/government/state/agencies-boards-commissions/. Third, eliminates the campaign subsidy program that been financing elections for 25 years. Without subsidies candidates will have to rely on money from special interest groups. Finally, allows legislators to block regulatory rules for vague reasons like "unduly burdensome" or because a rule is more strict than the federal one. Hearing Time: 10:00am Committee: Conference committee http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90021 Chairs: Senator Mary Kiffmeyer and Representative Sarah Anderson Members: House: Anderson S, Dettmer, Fenton, Nash, O’Driscoll Senate: Kiffmeyer, Anderson B, Hall, Koran, Laine

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