The Week at a Glance
COVID-19: Seven-day rolling average is 1279 cases per day. Positive test rate is 4.5%. Over 1.475 million Minnesotans have received at least one vaccine dose.
On Monday, the state recorded zero deaths for the first time in nearly a year.
Minnesota also passed a big milestone: 25% of Minnesotans are vaccinated.
80% of all Minnesota seniors are vaccinated.
On Thursday, Governor Walz announced that all adults 16 and older will be eligible to be vaccinated starting March 30th.
Governor Walz will deliver the State of the State address on Sunday, March 28 at 6:00 PM.
The Minneapolis Charter Commission is weighing whether or not to allow voters to decide if the city should switch to a strong mayor system of government whereby the mayor would become the chief executive of the city.
Governor Walz signed three bills into law this week: The Dry Cleaner Environmental Response and Reimbursement Account, the Uniform Recognition and Enforcement of Canadian Orders for Protection Act, and the Real Property Ownership Definitions Act.
Last Weekend
Saturday, March 20: Governor Tim Walz introduced an updated spending proposal, featuring a $1 billion reduction in spending.
Saturday, March 20: via Musadiq Bidar and Jack Turman of CBS News, “Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a fierce advocate of strengthening antitrust laws, says there's bipartisan interest among lawmakers to push for reforms that would increase their oversight of big tech companies and stop further consolidation of the industry.”
Sunday, March 21: The United States hit President Biden’s goal of 100 million shots.
Key Events, Court Rulings & Executive Branch Developments
Monday, March 22: Minnesota’s number of weekly vaccine doses are due to increase significantly over the coming weeks, doubling or even tripling the number of Minnesotans who receive the jab.
Monday, March 22: via Katrina Pross of Pioneer Press, The Minnesota Department of Corrections has proposed a new policy aimed at reducing prison time for inmates and redirecting the money saved into community programs and rehabilitation schemes.
Monday, March 22: An estimated 1.13 million Minnesota families will receive benefits from the expanded child tax credit included in the American Rescue Plan.
Tuesday, March 23: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released a report highlighting the economic contributions of immigrants in Minnesota. “The success of Minnesota’s economy, both now and in the future, is intrinsically linked to our immigrant communities,” said Laura Bordelon, Senior Vice President of Advocacy at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
Tuesday, March 23: Josh Verges of Pioneer Press interviewed incoming Education Commissioner Heather Mueller on COVID, school plans, and how to address achievement gaps.
Tuesday, March 23: via Briana Bierschbach of Star Tribune, the first Minnesotan charged for participating in the January 6th Capitol insurrection is Jordan K. Stotts, 31, of Moorhead. Charges of sedition are being considered for over 400 rioters.
Tuesday, March 23: via Michael Balsamo of Associated Press, Minneapolis FBI investigation leads to first-ever extradition of North Korean to U.S.
Wednesday, March 24: Unless the legislature agrees on how to spend some of the money allocated to Minnesota in the American Rescue Plan, Governor Walz could go it alone and decide how to spend billions in federal dollars.
Wednesday, March 24: There is “widespread transmission” of the more contagious B117 U.K. coronavirus variant in Minnesota, as hundreds of residents have been found to have tested positive with the variant.
Wednesday, March 24: via Brady Slater of Duluth News Tribune, “A downtown Duluth motel is in the process of being sold and converted to housing for people experiencing homelessness.”
Thursday, March 25: via Tim Pugmire of MPR News, Black leaders launch effort to close Minnesota's racial disparities
Thursday, March 25: Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Police Department Chief Medaria Arradondo held a press conference to provide updates on Operation Safety Net.
Friday, March 26: President Biden doubles down on his initial goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days, moving the target to 200 million shots.
Update from the Minnesota Legislature
Monday, March 22: via Dave Orrick of Pioneer Press, the American Rescue Plan has Minnesota loaded with federal money, but the extra cash hasn’t changed the state of budget negotiations.
Monday, March 22: via press release, “Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) introduced legislation aimed at allowing kids under 18, both residents and non-residents, to take small game or fish without a license, given that they possess a firearms safety certificate.”
Monday, March 22: After the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced PFAS contamination in 98% of landfills across the state, a group of DFL Senators are demanding action. PFAS chemicals have been shown to cause a litany of diseases, including kidney damage, thyroid issues, and cancer.
Tuesday, March 23: Following a 2019 fire in a Minneapolis high-rise that killed five people, the House passed a bipartisan bill this week to retrofit out-of-date buildings with sprinklers.
Tuesday, March 23: via press release, “On Monday, Senator Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville) presented his first bill, S.F. 710, on the Senate floor. This bipartisan legislation allows a school district to redirect any reserved or restricted revenue to another use during the 2021 fiscal year.”
Tuesday, March 23: A bill authored by Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) to prevent price gouging during a state of emergency passed the House by a vote of 71-62. Senator Lindsey Port (DFL-Burnsville) carries the legislation in the Senate.
Tuesday, March 23: Spending on lobbying in Minnesota decreased significantly in 2020, reports Jessie Van Berkel of Star Tribune. The Chamber of Commerce was at the top of the list with over $2 million in lobbying.
Wednesday, March 24: via Theo Keith of FOX 9, “The Minnesota House passed a $107 million summer school expansion Tuesday, targeting schoolkids who have missed months of classroom time during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Wednesday, March 24: Governor Walz signed three bills into law this week:
Wednesday, March 24: House Democrats introduced their budget plan, a $52.5 billion plan which is larger than both Governor Walz’s plan and the GOP proposal.
Kurt Daudt, via KSTP: “Instead of helping struggling workers and businesses, Democrats are prioritizing tax hikes and growing government.”
Paul Gazelka, via press release: “We told the Governor we’re not going to raise taxes, and guess what, House? We will not raise taxes.”
Education Minnesota via press release: “The budget targets released by the Minnesota House are much better than the Senate targets but fall short of our goal for fully funding public education.”
Thursday, March 25: A bipartisan group of legislators are pushing President Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reopen the northern border.
Thursday, March 25: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee held a hearing on marijuana legalization legislation to discuss the agricultural angle of ending pot prohibition in Minnesota.
Thursday, March 25: via Jessie Van Berkel of Star Tribune, Minnesota legislators push to end state collection of tax refunds for private hospital debt
Friday, March 26: via press release, “The Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee passed its omnibus budget bill (SF 485) today on a unanimous vote.”
Friday, March 26: The Minnesota House passed HF 7, a bill to guarantee paid sick leave time for workers. The bill was chief authored by Rep. Liz Olson (DFL-Duluth).
Friday, March 26: [Content Warning: Sexual Assault] via Beret Leone of KTTC, “The Minnesota Supreme Court says rape victims that ‘voluntarily’ get intoxicated, are not considered ‘mentally incapacitated.’” A bill in the House chief authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) would address the shortcoming in the legal code, and the legislation is moving swiftly. Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester) carries the companion bill in the Senate.
Congressional Delegation Update
Monday, March 22: Congressman Pete Stauber proposes the JUSTICE Act as a more modest alternative to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was passed by the U.S. House earlier this month. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) carries the legislation in the Senate.
Monday, March 22: Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach introduced her first bill in the U.S. House, the Child Care Choices Act.
Monday, March 22: Congressman Jim Hagedorn announces that he is in good health and there is “no cancer detected at this time.”
Tuesday, March 23: In a tweet, Congressman Dean Phillips pushed back against the idea of overturning the results of the IA-02 race, which was decided by just six votes. “Just because a majority can, does not mean a majority should,” said Phillips.
Tuesday, March 23: Senator Tina Smith called for an investigation into the NCAA for blatant discrepancies in treatment between male athletes and female athletes competing in March Madness basketball tournaments.
Tuesday, March 23: via press release, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and colleagues reintroduced the CROWN Act, which would outlaw race-based hair discrimination.
Wednesday, March 24: via Kriston Capps of Bloomberg CityLab, “Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, with fellow Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, will introduce the Housing Supply and Affordability Act. The bipartisan bill would authorize $1.5 billion for federal grants to local governments that commit to increase their supply of local housing, to be distributed over the next five years.”
Thursday, March 25: Congressman Tom Emmer will host a telephone town hall at the end of the month.
Thursday, March 25: via press release, “Today, legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Brian Mast (R-FL) to reduce water pollution in local communities advanced through the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.”
Thursday, March 25: Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) “… and House colleagues issued a joint statement today highlighting the disproportionate impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women across America.”
Friday, March 26: Congresswoman Angie Craig questioned Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Watch the video here.
Friday, March 26: Congressman Tom Emmer, Chairman of the NRCC, is feeling confident that his party can take back a majority of seats in Congress at the midterms.