Dear Neighbors,
I wanted to give you an update on where the Minnesota House stands.
Like my DFL colleagues, I have been focused on work in our district. However, we hope to collaborate with Republicans soon in St. Paul. Until Republicans agree to honor the will of the voters, I’ll continue working hard in our community.
Last week, The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Republicans’ attempted power grab in the Minnesota House was invalid. Therefore, every action they took since January 14th was unconstitutional. At the heart of my quorum denial is the Republicans’ stated desire to try to overturn an election of Brad Tabke, who voters in Shakopee elected, and whose election was certified and affirmed by a court. It would be an appalling and unprecedented abuse of power to throw out an election and disenfranchise the 22,000 Minnesotans who voted in Shakopee in November.
In addition, the voters elected a tied legislature at 67-67. Democrats have made reasonable offers to Republicans, allowing them to run the Minnesota House while there is a temporary vacancy in District 40B. We’re asking to govern under shared power if the House returns to a 67-67 tie after the special election in 40B.
In this tumultuous time, I will continue to work in whatever way I can to protect democracy, ensure that everyone has access to stable housing, lower costs for working families, protect our most basic freedoms, and secure a brighter future for all Minnesotans.
I’m doing just that, meeting with constituents in our district. Here are some highlights!
In the Community
I recently toured the Minneapolis Office of Community Safety with my colleagues to learn about how they provide service and resources for their community. The program of safety ambassadors, who are in the community, offers specialized outreach to address quality of life challenges for their residents, as well as finding resources for specific needs.
Later, we toured The Lift, a nonprofit repair shop that helps low-income Minnesotans repair their vehicles. Access to transportation can make all the difference for Minnesotans to get to work, engage in the community, or visit friends and families.
Access to affordable, stable housing has long been a priority of mine, and I’ve fought for years to achieve historic advancements on the issue. I visited Homeward Bound this week, an accessible shelter serving our urban Native neighbors. I also toured Avivo Village which has provided a new approach to getting folks in stable housing.
As the DFL Transportation Committee Chair, I was honored to visit with Metro Transit and Metropolitan Council for a tour of their bus garage. It was great to see their pilot EV bus charging infrastructure, and hear about their plans to significantly expand it over the next couple of years. We have the 15th-largest transit system in the country!
Keep in Touch
You can contact me at rep.erin.koegel@house.mn.gov or (651) 296-5369. You can follow me on Facebook as well. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our district in the legislature and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Erin Koegel
State Representative