The Week at a Glance
COVID-19: Seven-day rolling average is 791 cases per day. Positive test rate is 2.9%. Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Minnesota continue to decrease.
The budget forecast will be released today at 2PM. A tweet from the Office of Management and Budget projects a $1.6 billion positive balance.
Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter launched his re-election campaign with a kickoff event on Thursday.
A poll conducted by Data for Progress shows that Minnesotans overwhelmingly support raising taxes for top income earners and profitable corporations. Over two-thirds (67%) of respondents support or strongly support these additional taxes.
Last Weekend
Saturday, February 20: Known cases of UK Coronavirus variant in Minnesota doubles from 18 to 40 cases last week.
Saturday, February 20: In an unprecedented move earlier this month, the Minnesota Historical Society returned 114 acres of land to the Lower Sioux Indian Community. The land transfer was approved by the legislature in 2017.
Sunday, February 21: via Janet Moore of Star Tribune, “Police fatally shoot suspect in carjacking and theft after high-speed chase that started in Blaine; officer and K-9 injured.”
Key Events, Court Rulings & Executive Branch Developments
Monday, February 22: Metro Gold Line could prove to be an economic boon for Woodbury, with ten bus stops leading to millions of dollars in local development.
Monday, February 22: The pandemic is leading to changes in education in Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Education enrollment report shows that homeschooling increased by 50%, private school enrollment increased by 0.7%, and public school enrollment decreased by 2%.
Monday, February 22: Dominion Voting Systems files $1.3B defamation lawsuit against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
Tuesday, February 23: via press release, “Governor Tim Walz Announces 2021 Local Jobs and Projects Plan; Plan invests $518.086 million in projects across the state to maintain existing assets, invest in communities, and leverage available federal funds” More than a quarter of the half-billion dollar package would be dedicated to rebuilding neighborhoods in Minneapolis impacted by riots last summer.
Tuesday, February 23: via press release, “Minnesota Adds Hy-Vee to Expanding Pharmacy Vaccine Network.”
Wednesday, February 24: via Peter Callaghan of MinnPost, “Monday, a handful of plaintiffs — including redistricting expert Peter Wattson and former Ramsey County elections supervisor Joe Mansky — filed a lawsuit in state court arguing that Minnesota’s current legislative and congressional districts are unconstitutional. The reason: they are no longer of equal population.”
Wednesday, February 24: via Sarah Gannon of KTTC, “University of Minnesota announces NXT GEN MED: A groundbreaking, innovative partnership to re-envision healthcare education with support from Google Cloud and Mayo Clinic.”
Thursday, February 25: via Kamie Roesler of KTTC, Johnson & Johnson already has four million single-shot COVID-19 vaccine doses ready to ship.
Thursday, February 25: Governor Tim Walz appeared on WCCO Radio with Chad Hartmann. Listen to the appearance here.
Friday, February 26: In a vaccine rollout announcement yesterday, Governor Tim Walz vowed vaccination shots for all by summer and said that the state fair is “within reach.”
Update from the Minnesota Legislature
Monday, February 22: Rep. Zach Duckworth (R - Lakeville) and Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL - Champlin) propose bipartisan Bill of Rights for student loan borrowers. Student loan debt in the state totals $27 billion.
Tuesday, February 23: After botched investigations, preventable deaths, inmate suicides, and lackluster healthcare for inmates, the Minnesota legislature will consider sweeping reforms aimed at making prisons more humane and hospitable.
Tuesday, February 23: via Jimmy Lovrien of Duluth News Tribune, “Minnesota Pollution Control Agency considers lifting some water standards.”
Tuesday, February 23: Decisions on Congressional and legislative district mapmaking are likely to be made where they are most often made: the courts.
Wednesday, February 24: The legislature is set to decide on candidates for the Board of Regents. Via Ryan Faircloth of Star Tribune, “At a joint meeting Tuesday, the Minnesota House and Senate higher education committees picked two finalists for each of the four seats on the university's governing board, teeing up a final vote by the full Legislature.”
Wednesday, February 24: Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Minneapolis) and Rep. Steve Elkins (DFL-Bloomington) introduced HF 1492, the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (MCDPA).
Wednesday, February 24: via press release from Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, “Senate DFL Leader Susan Kent joined Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Representative Ruth Richardson, and advocates from the Minnesotans for Paid Family Leave coalition at a press conference today to call for legislation ensuring that workers have the opportunity to care for themselves or a loved one in a time of need, without sacrificing economic security.”
Wednesday, February 24: via press release, “Center of the American Experiment this week launched a statewide radio and digital ad campaign titled ‘Think about it’ that will run for the next three months. The campaign will encourage Minnesotans to ‘think about’ the enormous growth in the state budget, how higher tax rates will not help and why students aren’t fully back in the classroom.”
Thursday, February 25: Fmr. Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL - Shakopee) announced that he will run for Minnesota House again in 2022.
Friday, February 26: The Senate passed SF 1, which would allow Minnesota businesses to open without any state-imposed COVID-19 restrictions.
Friday, February 26: The House passed SF 475, authorizing dentists to administer the coronavirus vaccine.
Congressional Delegation Update
Saturday, February 20: Congressman Pete Stauber says he is “keeping all options open” regarding a potential bid for Governor of Minnesota in 2022.
Monday, February 22: Senator Amy Klobuchar highlights need to combat pandemic conspiracy theories and coronavirus vaccine misinformation.
Monday, February 22: In a letter to President Biden, Congresswoman Angie Craig and colleagues urge the President to “fill the existing vacancies on the United States Postal Service’s Board of Governors as quickly as possible.”
Monday, February 22: via press release, “U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 28 members of Congress today in requesting that the House of Representatives make paid interns permanently eligible for telework.”
Tuesday, February 23: Congress enjoys its highest approval rating in 12 years… 35% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing.
Tuesday, February 23: via press release, “Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach sent a letter to President Joseph R. Biden urging his Administration to prioritize a bilateral plan to re-open the border between the United States and Canada” The border has remained closed to non-essential travel for nearly a year.
Wednesday, February 24: via press release, Senator Amy Klobuchar presided over the first Senate hearing to examine the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol as Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee.
Wednesday, February 24: via press release, “Today, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill authored by Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) to rename the Wayzata Post Office in honor of former Minnesota Rep. Jim Ramstad.”
Thursday, February 25: Congressman Tom Emmer introduced the Same Day Accountability Veterans Enhancement (SAVE) Act to ensure that the VA can successfully offer same-day services for those in need.
Thursday, February 25: Congressman Pete Stauber announced $10 million in HUD grants for all five tribes of Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional district.
Friday, February 26: As the U.S. House passed the Equality Act, Congresswoman Angie Craig shared the following statement: “As a young lesbian woman growing up in rural America, I never imagined I’d finally see a bill like this reach the House floor – much less as a Member of this body. I am honored to help pass this long-overdue legislation, which represents the culmination of lifetimes of hard work for so many.”