Dear Neighbors,
It's been a busy few weeks at the Capitol, as we mark the deadlines by which bills must pass through committees. The final committee deadline is next Friday, March 31; I'll provide an update on where things stand after that. In the meantime, I want to make constituents aware of FOUR special opportunities for us to connect in the next couple of weeks - see below.
House Budget Targets
Earlier this week, House Republicans announced their budget targets, the final piece needed for committees to craft budget proposals in specific areas for the next two years. We'll know the details - and I'll report more - as these proposals are released. But the targets themselves are very concerning - they would require a $600 million cut in health and human services, as well as an increase in education support far below the rate of inflation and pupil growth.
Prenatal to Three Policy Forum - Monday at St. Kate's
The next installment in the series of quarterly forums that I've organized with early childhood advocates will be held this coming Monday morning, March 27 in the Rauenhort Ballroom at St. Kate's. The Forum is free and open to the public, with well over 100 attendees expected. Click here to see more details.
Senate District 64 Luncheon - Tuesday at the Capitol
A reminder to those who have registered that the Senate District 64 luncheon with Sen. Cohen, Rep. Murphy, and me is coming up on Tuesday, March 28. Unfortunately, the luncheon is full. But look for an announcement very soon about a town hall that the three of us will be hosting in mid-April.
Chat with Dave - Saturday, April 2 at the JCC
The next "Chat with Dave" will be on Sunday, April 2, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm, at the Jewish Community Center, 1375 St. Paul Ave. Please join us for an informal conversation with neighbors about the issues that are on your mind. Make sure to bring some form of identification (student ID, driver’s license, etc). It is mandatory to be allowed inside the JCC.
Advocacy Fair - Saturday, April 8 at Gloria Dei
In the past few months, my office has been flooded with calls from constituents who want to advocate for policy change - especially from the progressive side - but aren’t sure how to do so. In response, several colleagues & I have put together an Advocacy Fair, a chance for folks to connect with more than 20 advocacy organizations who could use their help. The Fair will be on Saturday, April 8 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (stop by anytime!) at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Ave. S. A flyer and more details will be coming soon.
Rallying Against Gun Violence
I was honored to speak recently at the Moms Demand Action Rally at the Capitol. Moms Demand is a nonpartisan organization that advances common-sense measures to reduce the number of guns in our neighborhoods. I also called on the Republican majority to finally allow hearings on my bills to reduce gun violence. Note that the majority provided such hearings to "reckless carry" and "stand your ground" bills that would increase the risk of this violence.
Meeting with Katies!
I was happy to catch up with visiting students from St. Kate's recently at the Capitol!
Thank you for the honor of serving our community,
Dave Pinto
State Representative, District 64B
321 State Office Building
(651) 296-4199
www.house.leg.state.mn.us/64b