Capitol Letter for March 21, 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.
Climate Change
Bill to help cities prep for climate change heard in House
HF2200, authored by Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL–Brooklyn Center), was heard in the House this week and featured LWVMN’s own Kathleen Doran-Norton who testified in support. The bill would grant up to $50,000 to cities and counties to prepare them for the impacts of climate change. Additionally, it would help reduce their carbon footprint with an action plan. Stormwater infrastructure funding proposed by Gov. Walz would help cities adapt to increased rainfall while clean water projects are likely to receive funding this session. The bill was laid over as amended for possible omnibus bill inclusion; there is no Senate companion at this time.
Ukraine invasion reframes mining debate in northern MN
Copper-nickel mining opponents in northern Minnesota claim that PolyMet’s majority owners have business ties with Russia which supports a “bad actor” bill (HF3389) written by Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL–Deephaven) and Sen. Jen McEwen (DFL–Duluth) against the company’s operations. On the other side of the aisle, Republican lawmakers, led by Sen. Spencer Igo (R–Grand Rapids), are promoting metal mining in Minnesota to reduce the reliance on Russia for materials. The debate has centered around protecting the region’s fragile waterways from the metal’s toxic byproducts.
Opponents of the PolyMet project have questioned the environmental impacts the mine will have, specifically to waterways due to the toxic byproducts of mining. The “bad actor” bill’s fate is unknown, but the partisan divide in the Legislature makes it unlikely to see the bill become law.
Bus Rapid Transit lines F, G, and H introduced in the legislature
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a package of transit enhancements that hope to improve transit speed and overall experience. BRT is faster than local buses as they make fewer stops, allows customers to purchase tickets before boarding, signal priority allows buses to move through traffic faster, and more. There are already a number of bills in the House to support BRT, including:
HF2997, by Rep. Connie Bernardy (DFL–Fridley), and SF3921, by Sen. Mary Kunesh (DFL–New Brighton), would fund and appropriate money for the Metropolitan Council F BRT Line
HF3623, by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL–West St. Paul), and SF3434, by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL–St. Paul), would fund and appropriate money for the BRT G Line
HF3767, by Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL–Minneapolis), and SF3619, by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL–St. Paul), would fund and appropriate money for BRT H Line
If you would like to voice your support for the BRT project, fill out this form to send to your local senator and representative.
Minnesota’s top greenhouse gas polluters
25% of Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions come from about 100 facilities. These facilities provide goods that are so prominent in our everyday lives; electricity, sugar, trash, fuel for heat and cars, and more. About one-third of the top polluters are power plants. The leading polluter is Xcel Energy’s Sherburne County Generating System, Sherco. Sherco emitted 11 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2019. Since 2012, Sherco’s emissions have increased by about 12%, according to the EPA. However, Xcel does plan to close Sherco by 2026.
Democracy
St. Paul Charter Commission adopts new city ward map
After delays due to no agreement by the State Legislature, the St. Paul City Charter Commission had only one month to create local maps. The city’s 95 voting precincts were reorganized into 87. While there is not much change from the previous ward map, the new one has drawn some criticism from local advocacy groups. Common Cause, for example, points out that the map does not center around communities of interest enough. Find a copy of the new map here.
Other Legislative News
Walz proposes larger rebate checks
Gov. Tim Walz has announced his updated supplemental budget proposal in the wake of the growing surplus. It’s set to include financial aid for retirees, improvements to the public health system, and tax rebate checks. Previously, Gov. Walz had suggested $175 for Minnesotans, but now has proposed $500 for single taxpayers and $1,000 for couples.
The Republican-controlled Senate has called the proposed “Walz Checks” a “gimmick”. Instead, they propose permanent tax cuts and eliminating taxes on Social Security. So far there has been little bipartisan support on either proposal.
The fight for Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Trust fund
The Unemployment Insurance Trust fund was dried during the COVID-19 pandemic. It had to borrow money from the federal government to fulfill all the unemployment check requests. Now, lawmakers are disagreeing over the size of the problem and how to fix it. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, taxes will increase on businesses to pay for the debt.
Observer Corps Reports
House Climate and Energy Hearing - Tuesday, Mar. 15
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt
The committee heard HF2200, authored by Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL–Brooklyn Center). $5 million in grants up to $50,000 each to local governments to develop climate action plans. Four cities, one township, Dr. Kate Knuth, and our own Kathleen Doran-Norton testified in support. 20 cities and oen county in Minnesota have declared a climate emergency. The testifiers spoke about how they have already developed plans. The best being those that have actually gotten down to work plans with quick actions like Red Wing. St. Louis Park noted that having a plan becomes a lens through which all other decisions are made. Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R–Marshall) tried to get city speakers to choose between more LGA and this program. Rep. Mary Franson (R–Alexandria) complained that public safety is more important to fund than "grifting projects”, which she went on to compare to child feeding programs. Rep. Vang responded that she is on the Public Safety committee which is proposing a large public safety bill and that both needs can be addressed with our budget surplus. Bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Senate Energy Hearing - Tuesday, Mar. 15
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt
SF2185, by Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R–Ostego), was passed and referred to Local Government Policy. The bill prohibits bans by political subdivisions on new natural gas services and proposes new coding laws.
SF2416, by Sen. Karin Housely (R–Forest Lake) was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus energy bill. This appropriates $4.1 million for grants for EV charging stations at county government centers. Author explained that the Dept. of Commerce would put out RFPs for ownership and operations. Chair suggested that a clarifying language to insure these were available to the public, not just for local govt vehicles, be inserted. Association of Minnesota Counties suggested clarifying language should be added giving counties a role in selecting location on their property. The Dept. of Commerce noted this is not their bill, but they are happy with it and think this will lead to about 72 new charging stations at $50,000/grant.
House Education Finance Hearing - Wednesday, Mar. 16
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
HF3963, by Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL–Edina), advocates for high-cost special education activity, additional state aid provided, and money appropriated.
In Minnesota, special education services are provided in one of 14 areas defined in state rule. Service levels depend on each student’s IEP. Some students may receive only an hour of services a week while others may be in a program that provides special instruction for the full school day. The special education costs for some students who need limited services are not large. For other students, particularly for those students who have severe disabilities, are medically fragile, or may otherwise need the presence of a full-time aide during the school day, the special education spending for that student can be quite large.
School districts, charter schools, and cooperative units receive state aid to provide special education services to their students. State and federal special education aid cover roughly 60 percent of the full costs of special education services. HF3963 proposes a new aid category of special education aid, called “high cost services aid” to provide additional special education aid for those school districts that serve students whose total special education costs are more than three times the statewide average special education costs per student. Current average is about $19,000, and the aid new category would cover those students whose IEPs are 3 times or more the average IEP cost of about $19,000, or about $59,000 and above.
Testimony was in favor of the bill from administrators of SPED programs across the state who explained the increasing number of high needs SPED students that they must serve. Testifiers from SPED-intensive intermediate districts and cooperatives pointed out there are some students whose IEPs can cost six figures annually to fulfill. It was emphasized that a very high needs student who attends a small district can significantly and detrimentally impact a school district’s budget, particularly since SPED reimbursements are provided as much as 12-24 months in areas.
Rep. Sondra Erickson (R–Princeton) suggested that funding is not the only concern for these children, particularly medically fragile ones. We need to examine how much we are actually educating these children rather than just taking care of them medically. Congress needs to re-assert former Congressman John Kline’s efforts to re-examine and fully fund SPED within the IDEA law and look to incorporate MTSS into the entire system for all SPED students in order to reign in long-term costs and more fully fund those mandates that remain. Rep. Cheryl Youakim (DFL–Hopkins) agreed and added that the state also needs to take a similar look at its own mandates and inadequate funding systems as well. But she stated that this is a good first step to address unfunded costs for the highest needs students with the most expensive IEPs.
The bill was laid over without a vote.
HF3816, by Rep. Rena Moran (DFL–St. Paul), calls for a Network for the Development of Children of African Descent grant program funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF3816 proposes a grant of an unspecified amount to a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization called “Network for the Development of Children of African Descent” or NdCAD. Requires the grant to be used to expand the organization’s evidence-based programming to address disparate outcomes for African American children and their families through foundational literacy, education, and family stabilization programs.
Appropriates an unspecified amount in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund to the commissioner of education for a grant to the nonprofit organization called Network for the Development of Children of African Descent.
NdCAD is a data-proven successful, whole-child program which also works with families by using cultural resources to engage children, families, and communities and build sustainable support systems for students of African Descent.
A presentation was provided by Gevonee Ford, Director of NdCAD which showed the organization’s data and success over its 20-year existence.
Testimony was provided in favor of the bill by parents whose students and families have participated in and benefited from the NdCAD program. They emphasized that their students felt that for the first time they got to work with teachers who actually believed in them and their ability to achieve and be successful. They also said that the NdCAD program also helped them as parents to realize not just their children’s potential, but also their own.
Rep. Peggy Bennett (R–Albert Lea) inquired about the logistics of the program – how are the families identified, and how are they supported? Gevonee Ford explained that the students are identified for eligibility via referral through employment counselors, achievement zone staff, and schools. COVID-19 and distance learning issues have increased the number of parents who have been able to be served because other costs, such as transportation, went down. The need is greater than funding allows, however.
The program is a Tier 2 pull-out, 9-week intervention that takes place in-school and during the summer. The reading curriculum mirrors what is taught in school, but it adds cultural and other support elements that better engage the students and families in their learning. There can also be a follow-up 8-week program for some families. A monthly community meeting of families is also held to develop interfamily support systems. It also takes an interdisciplinary approach to reading, so that the program can help students to use their literacy skills to better achieve in all academic areas.
Rep. John Thompson (I–St Paul) commented that his daughter and son were involved in the program very successfully starting 14 years ago, and it really helped both of them, who are now both very successful in high school. He emphasized that he was embarrassed at first to admit that he needed help to support his children, but the NdCAD program made him feel comfortable, and the presence of a community of parents and students facing the same issues was also very reassuring and helpful for both student achievement, and greatly increased parental confidence and ability to support their students’ success.
Rep. Sondra Erickson (R–Princeton) asked about NdCAD funding. Gevonee Ford replied that it is a mix of grants, donations, and fees from partnership organizations, and their current annual budget is about $850,000. They do not charge fees to the students and families who utilize the program. Rep. Erickson stated that we should fund what works and suggested that NdCAD consider opening a charter school to fully integrate their program into the classroom setting. Subsequent charter schools could be expanded to other areas of the state than just Ramsey County.
The bill was laid over without a vote.
HF3948, by Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL–Minneapolis), establishes a Wilderness Inquiry credit recovery program grant authorized, report required, and money appropriated.
Wilderness Inquiry is a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of programming options designed to connect individuals, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from underserved communities, with the outdoors.
HF3948 appropriates $494,000 in fiscal year 2023 to Wilderness Inquiry for credit recovery programs, capital expenses, and a fellowship program.
Rep. Davnie explained that COVID-19 has provided many academic and mental health challenges for students have been great, while at the same time Minnesotans across the state have flocked to take advantage of outdoor opportunities. The bill provides opportunities for students to recover and fulfill graduation credit requirements through outdoor learning opportunities, as well as fellowship opportunities for outdoor employment for students with an interest in pursuing outdoors-focused careers.
Testimony in favor of the bill was from administrators and former participants in Wilderness Inquiry’s Credit Recovery Program, which specialize in outdoor learning programs and would be the grant recipient. Wilderness Inquiry has had great success in its partnership with Minneapolis schools and would like to expand its program to other areas of the metro area.
The bill was laid over without a vote.