Capitol Letter for May 2, 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 

Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Duluth to receive federal support for reducing emissions in disadvantaged areas 

The U.S. Department of Energy will assist Hennepin County to implement charging stations and the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Duluth to lower greenhouse gas emissions. They are three areas out of 22 that will get assistance in taking steps towards a clean energy future. Hennepin County will focus on a long-term plan, getting charging stations for electric vehicles in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Duluth’s is more specific to energy issues in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The federal climate and clean energy investments will lower the electricity burden, provide jobs and opportunities for education, and, in Minneapolis, increase transportation options for disadvantaged communities. 

Study offers details on how climate change affects Minnesota 

Minnesotans will see warmer and wetter winters and slightly warmer summers according to a new University of Minnesota study presented to the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee. Without reductions in emissions, the study concluded that Minnesota will see the average yearly snow depth decrease five inches and we will see between 55-60 fewer days a year with snow cover. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through urban areas, protection of peatlands and forests, and changing agricultural practices can keep Minnesota in line with the UN’s recent climate predictions. Emissions from the transportation sector have helped greenhouse gas emissions reach their highest levels in human history while methane emissions must be reduced by 34% by 2030. 

House passes omnibus environment, natural resources bill  

HF4492/SF4062 have been passed, as amended, with a 70-59 vote. A conference committee is expected to be needed to work out the differences with the Senate. Authored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL–St. Paul), the bill appropriates the 2023 supplemental budget for the Pollution Control Agency, Department of Natural Resources, Board of Water and Soil Resources, and other organizations. The bills center around environmental justice, promote natural climate solutions, and restrict PFAs in certain products and lead ammunition, among many other provisions that LWVMN supports. 

Climate change a big voting factor for young people  

Minnesotans and Wisconsinites agree that climate change affects our collective future. Studies and interviews show that the majority of young people are concerned about climate change. From local to national elections and climate justice campaigns, they march, vote, and demand accountability. Turnout is likely to remain high among climate voters in 2022 despite the perceived inaction by the Biden administration. It is one of the leading factors that are getting younger voters out to the polls, a group that we usually see a lower turnout in. 

Minnesota falling short on federal conservation goal  

The state has not set a course to protect 30% of land from development by 2030. President Biden’s national plan follows a global scientific campaign to limit the impact of the climate and biodiversity crisis through conservation. “America the Beautiful” is a voluntary goal to conserve at least 30% of the country’s land and water by 2030, also known as the “30x30” target.  As of now, only 7% of Minnesota’s land is permanently protected. Many states out west have at least double that protected. While reducing greenhouse gas emissions receives the majority of attention from climate groups, the issue likely hasn’t been taken up across the Midwest due to stark Republican opposition. Forest and farmland groups are balancing production and conservation while protecting the Southeast Minnesota bufflands, western grasslands, and prairie-forest transition areas could help the state meet this goal.

Democracy 

Full-time legislature suggested  

Per the state constitution, the legislature can meet during 120 “legislative days” over the course of two years, not counting special sessions. However, HF4840 suggested by Rep. Jaime Long (DFL–Minneapolis) with a companion by Sen. Lindsay Port (DFL–Burnsville) would make the session last year-round. The bill does not change the salary of lawmakers, as that is by an independent commission following a 2016 amendment. Rep. Long defends his bill:

“We are losing a lot of good people every single cycle who aren’t able to make it work with the demands of having another part-time job…a number of my colleagues see the downsides of having a full-time executive and a full-time court system and only a part-time Legislature.” 

To amend the Constitution, the bill must get majority votes in the House and Senate in addition to a majority vote by the public. If a voter does not cast a vote on the amendment, it counts as a ‘no’. It is unlikely the bill will make it to the ballot this fall, as state Senators are not onboard. Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R–Winona) criticizes that this measure would move us towards “D.C.-style politics” as he explains how it is important for our state to maintain a citizen-legislature. Rep. Long hopes gain bipartisan support for the bill next session. 

Too many omnibus bills? 

We continue to see an increase in the use of omnibus bills as the primary vehicle for passing legislation, even as lawmakers criticize their use. The 1973-74 session law had the same number of bills passed as the subsequent 11 sessions combined. Many argue that omnibus bills are the most efficient way to get things done in the short period of time that the legislature is in session. Those against argue that, in the end, the legislation is passed by only five leaders behind closed doors. This practice is evenly used and evenly criticized by both parties. 

Racial Justice 

Early childhood bill headed to House 

HF4300 was passed, as amended, on a party line vote of 18-10. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL–Minneapolis) and has the goal of increasing learning opportunities for students, eliminating opportunity gaps, and working to make the education system “fair and equitable”. Republicans object to the spending in this bill, which would appropriate $1.15 billion in 2023 and $2.12 billion in the following two years. HF4300 would create a voluntary pre-k program for eligible 4-year-olds, coming from low-income families and for kids who are “vulnerable”, invest in special education, English-language learning programs, and provide support personnel for students dealing with mental health issues. SF4113 by Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R–Lino Lakes) is awaiting action in the Senate. 

Report: MPD engaged in pattern of illegal, racial discrimination  

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has released a report that concludes the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) has conducted agency stops, searches, arrests, and uses of force—including kills—at distinctly higher rates than white people. It was also found that officers had created covert social media accounts without authorization to surveil Black people and organizations unrelated to criminal activity. Black residents make up 19% of the city’s population but were subject to 63% of police use-of-force events. 14 people were killed by police over that time period and all but one were people of color. The StarTribune offers this scathing example from the report: 

“In interviews with human rights investigators, one patrol officer denied engaging in racial profiling, yet later ‘provided an example of how they might solve a crime based on racial stereotypes’. ‘This officer did not appear to understand that searching for someone based solely on racial stereotypes was, in fact, racial profiling.’” 

The report was at times difficult to read, as it describes MPD employees regularly using racist, misogynistic, and disrespectful language, including calling Black people the n-word. There were also troubling findings in relation to sexual assault investigations, as one officer claimed a man couldn’t be guilty of assaulting a woman if they had a child together. Racial slurs and sexist remarks were found to be a norm not only in relation to citizens, but fellow officers who don’t report the behavior out of fear of retaliation and a lack of faith that proper discipline will be given.

The current system for holding police officers accountable has remained “insufficient and ineffective”, per the report. Mayor Jacob Frey has said the reports findings are “repugnant, at times horrific”, adding that the city has failed to follow through on promises to improve accountability of officers. 

Other Legislative News 

Unemployment insurance trust fund bill passes in the House 

HF3166, by Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL–Winona), has passed 70-63 as amended. It now returns to the Senate for concurrence. It is expected that a conference committee will need to work out the differences between the House and Senate bills. If the bill had not passed, employers would have faced higher payroll taxes to pay for the fund. Per an amendment by Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL–Minneapolis), any employers who already paid the higher rate will receive a refund. 

Traction gained to change the state flag 

Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL–Golden Valley) has called the current flag not only just racist, but not a stretch to “call it genocidal”. The flag has a poem that goes along with the interpretation of our state’s seal, which includes encouraging all of the “red men” to flee to the coasts and leave white settlers to “claim the state’s wealth”. Early settlers did forcefully remove Native Americans out of Minnesota, killing many. A popular replacement for the flag is the “North Star Flag”, which is a simple design of a gold star in a field of blue, white, and green. Many DFLers in the House support Rep. Freiberg’s movement, but the GOP are less convinced. Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R–Albertville) says this should be the lowest priority for lawmakers, as the state has an uphill battle to regain its footing after the COVID-19 pandemic. She’s also said “love it or hate it…it’s still our flag” and is reluctant to encourage any redesign, asking where it would end.