Dear neighbors,
The special session came to an end early Saturday morning after legislators in the Senate voted to adjourn. It’s disappointing that Senate Republicans chose to go home without making progress on the issues Minnesotans are asking us to address. We will continue working on support for local governments dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, police accountability and criminal justice reform, and other important issues. I hope our colleagues will join us to find as many agreements as possible.
On the final day of special session, the House Chaplain was Reverend Oliver White. Reverend White is from Grace-United Church of Christ in South St. Paul. You can listen to his prayer and the House floor session that followed here.
Police Accountability and Criminal Justice Reform
As I mentioned in my last email, the House passed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020 last Thursday. This package of legislation contained racial justice and police accountability measures that were championed by People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus legislators and community members. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans decided to end the special session without completing this badly-needed work. I’ll continue working with Minnesotans to strengthen police accountability, build trust between officers and the people and neighborhoods they serve, and reimagine public safety.
Assistance for Local Governments
Local governments have prepared for and responded to COVID-19, keeping Minnesotans safe. On Friday, we passed legislation to deliver $841 million in federal funding to Minnesota counties, cities, and towns. Under the bill, Dakota County would receive $52 million to respond to COVID-19 and provide support for impacted individuals and businesses. The legislation also included $71,000 for Lilydale, $15,500 for Mendota, $858,000 for Mendota Heights, $1.5 million for South St. Paul, and $1.5 million for West St. Paul. This funding would help ensure our local governments can continue providing the services Minnesotans expect and deserve.
In addition to supporting local governments, the legislation included funding to provide a temporary wage increase for personal care assistants who take care of vulnerable Minnesotans, prevent veteran suicides and homelessness, help the Minnesota Zoo stay open, and more. We couldn’t find bipartisan agreement on this legislation, but I’m committed to delivering these funds for our communities and our state.
Other Unfinished Business
Other priorities were also left unfinished, including a Jobs and Local Projects Plan and legislation to protect our environment and natural resources. Action is needed to repair and rebuild communities that were damaged during civil unrest as well. I’ll continue working on these important issues.
Recognizing Jack Trice
In 1923, Jack Trice – a Black student-athlete from Iowa State – died after being trampled by players from the University of Minnesota during his second college football game. It was suspected that Mr. Trice was targeted because of his race. Iowa State renamed their stadium after Jack Trice in 1997, making it the only major college football stadium named for a Black man.
Jack Trice’s story should be known and recognized, particularly in Minnesota. It’s a reminder that we must acknowledge the racism that has existed and continues to exist in our country in order to make meaningful change. For that reason, I’m formally requesting the University of Minnesota Board of Regents to apologize for the murder of Jack Trice. You can read more about his story here.
Moving Forward with Youth Sports
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently released new guidance for moving forward with youth sports. MDH is advising a phased-in approach for resuming indoor and outdoor games, scrimmages, and practices. You can find detailed recommendations here and answers to frequently asked questions here.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance. I appreciate hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative