Capitol Letter for February 7, 2022

The Capitol Letter™ is a recurring publication that provides reports from LWV Minnesota volunteer Observer Corps and Lobby Corps members on what is happening in the current legislative session.

Bonding 

Governor Walz has proposed a $2.7 billion infrastructure package that would go towards “jobs and local projects”. Over $1 billion would go to asset preservation to maintain existing taxpayer property. $560 million would go to various infrastructure projects, including bridge replacements, road improvements, and water infrastructure. The remaining amount would be allotted to housing projects to combat homelessness and protecting the environment. Walz explains his proposal, saying that these projects “focus[es] on the things that make life simply better for folks, as well as investing for the future as you see in this project here”. 

Surplus and Supplemental Budgeting

The Minnesota legislature has an unprecedented surplus this session, totaling about $7.7 billion. DFLers are pushing for the funds to go towards child care programs and paid family leave, where Republicans are proposing the surplus be returned to the taxpayers, and that the large surplus itself should demonstrate how lawmakers should be cutting taxes across the board. 

COVID-19 

There have been stalls in the proposed $250 million that would go to relieve frontline workers, with debates on what job positions should be included. Governor Walz and DFLers want to bump this to $1 billion to give workers immediate relief, whereas Republicans want to focus on “targeted relief plans for long-term care and health care workers”. 

Education 

Education is a major part of the DFLers 2022 legislative plan. They want to heavily fund classrooms, early learning, and supporting teacher staff. Republicans are opposed to this plan, where they instead ask to focus more on test scores and graduation preparation. 

The Page Amendment has also gained momentum from DFLers, which would add an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would classify education as a civil right for all children of Minnesota. 

Health care

DFLers will push for universal health care and expanding accessibility, but Republicans continue to oppose it. 

Families 

Much like education, DFLers are looking to heavily fund family programs in the 2022 session. Specifically, to lower the cost of childcare and to renew statewide family and medical leave. Republicans stay firm that lowering taxes is the best way to support Minnesota families.

Housing

Safe and affordable housing projects would get $450 million in Walz’s proposal. DFLers are asking specifically to address homelessness, but Republicans are concerned with the transparency of these programs and short timeline expectations. 

Marijuana 

Last session, the House passed a proposal to legalize marijuana, and Walz added funding to legalize it in the supplemental budget. The proposal also includes implementing an expugency board to review prior marijuana-related offenses. Senate Republicans remain strongly opposed to this bill, and it is unlikely to see much progress on the proposal becoming law. 

Public safety 

Republicans are pushing for tougher sentencing guidelines for carjackers and repeat offenders, specifically with firearm-related offenses. Additionally, they are proposing grants to help districts recruit more police officers and repealing the five year probation cap.  While DFLers are also stressing the importance of addressing public safety, they are determined to do so by heavily funding community nonprofits and officer outreach in areas of high crime. 

Taxes

Republicans see the historic surplus as a cry for tax cuts across the board, where DFLers favor tax cuts only for lower and middle classes. Governor Walz has proposed his “Walz Checks” that would be a one-time rebate for the taxpayers. Both Republicans and Walz want to add to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund that was dried during the pandemic. 

Elections 

Republicans are steadfast on passing voter ID laws, which would require separate identification to cast a ballot. DFLers counter this, saying it would negatively impact Minnesota’s same-day voter registration. More details on these pieces of legislation will be available in future Capitol Letters. 

Climate change 

Copper nickel mine cancelled 

This past week, President Biden has cancelled two leases for the copper nickel mine near the Boundary Waters. The two minerals are key to a low-carbon economy, but the mine posed risks to that ecosystem, leading many Minnesotans to oppose the mine. Republican Congressman Pete Stauber, along with other pro-mining interest groups, criticize this decision as purely “political” and job-killing. 

Climate emergency

Over a dozen cities have adopted climate emergency resolutions, an initiative led by the Minnesota Cities Climate Caucus. Many hope this will pressure lawmakers to make climate action a priority this session. Globally, more than 2,000 governments in 34 countries have declared climate emergencies. 

Fighting flooding 

Of the $2.7 billion infrastructure package, $940 million is set to go towards communities that are impacted by climate change. Minnesota legislators and city leaders are supporting a $21 million grant program that would include system upgrades to protect cities from extreme weather. 

Racial Justice 

Bonding and racial equality 

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) organizations are focusing on how racial equality can be addressed in the bonding bill, as many of the infrastructure issues disproportionately affect BIPOC communities. Republicans think the governor’s wish list is too big, but there is already some bipartisan movement. 

Crime 

Public safety is a priority for both parties due to the recent rise in crime. Republicans are advocating for a tough-on-crime approach, like imposing mandatory minimum sentencing on violent offenders. DFLers, on the other hand, intend on using the money to fund community organizations and efforts on violence prevention. 

Walz’s public safety agenda for the next three years includes $300 million dedicated to local governments and tribes for localized efforts. There are fears that the parties opposing methods to combat the rise in violence could lead to a stall in any action at all. 

HF2724 

Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps members Jackie Reis and Kitty Westin:

Representative Cedric Fraizer (D–Minneapolis) is sponsoring HF2724, which could change the way police are hired, trained, disciplined, and even proposes creating a civilian oversight council that would have power over police departments. Because the criminal justice and public safety system has disparate impact on racial and ethnics minorities, this legislation is intended to improve racial justice in public safety. 

Frazier aims for community-based policing, involving crime-prevention organizations that would work with police forces to build a trustworthy relationship between the two forces. Additionally, the bill would create a task force that would not only recruit more police officers, but increase diversity and background in recruits, and promote education in the force. Hearings last week focused on Article 2 of the bill, which would allot $22 million in grants to improve clearance rates for homicides and shootings, $22 million for departments to expand their foot patrols and expand community partnerships, and $2.5 million for body cam equipment. There are mixed reactions from law enforcement organizations. Testimonies in support of the bill include Jim Harrington, Commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Safety; Sasha Cotton, Minneapolis Office on Violence Prevention; Jessica DeWeerth, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense–Minnesota; Guadalupe Lopex, Violence Free Minnesota; and Dr. Patrick Starkey, sociologist at Princeton University. 

This bill was proposed the same week that Amir Locke, a Minneapolis citizen, was shot and killed by MPD during the execution of a no-knock warrant.