Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome back to the legislative session! I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the work my colleagues and I have accomplished in the past three months. While this work requires a myriad of tenacity and resilience, I am motivated by the stories and lived experiences of people across the state. Serving our community and bringing life-enhancing impacts for all Minnesotans is an honor. Over the next few weeks, we will shift our focus to budget bills and voting on omnibus bill packages.
Interview with Agence France-Presse
As soon as I got back to the Capitol, I joined Inès Bel Aïba from the Agence France-Presse to talk about anti-LGBTQ+ and specifically anti-trans bills being introduced and implemented in statehouses across the country. They noticed Minnesota is building a more inclusive state, reflective and supportive of all its citizens. The work we are doing matters to so many, and the world is watching.
Holy Month - Easter, Ramadan, Passover
It is a Holy season, indeed! Blessed Ramadan, Passover, and Easter season to all. No matter your celebration, I hope you find time for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation.
The House and Senate, joined by Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, gathered for our first Iftar since 2019. I want to thank the Speaker of the House, Melissa Hortman, and President of the Senate, Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, for hosting a beautiful gathering.
Thank you to the Muslim American Society of Minnesota for inviting members of the community to join us.
While we have made great progress together this session, there is nothing quite like sharing a meal to bring people together, celebrate community, and uplift each other's stories and rich cultures. I am already looking forward to next year.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Black Maternal Health Week
April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week. Black Maternal Health Week, originated by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, was created to raise awareness of diminished maternal health outcomes in America, especially among Black women.
In the U.S., maternal mortality rates have steadily increased since the 1990s with a sharp 64% rise between 2019 and 2021, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States has had one of the highest maternal mortality rates among economically comparable countries for many years.
Hennepin County has the largest concentration of African Americans in Minnesota, and here the infant mortality rate among U.S.-born African Americans is 3.4 times higher than among white infants.
The Black Maternal Health Caucus is working to enhance equitable and culturally competent prenatal care and postnatal care to lower the mortality rates among our Black babies and increase strategies to improve their quality of life starting at birth.
Trans Day of Visibility Rally
There was so much joy in the MN Capitol during the Trans Day of Visibility Rally! I was proud to see our community's incredible display of love and strength. We are on the right side of history, and we are ready to fight for queer liberation. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and those who could not. This an extraordinary revolution and I am honored to be in it with you all.
Recent Events at Tennessee Legislature
On April 6, Tennessee House Republicans voted to expel two Black Democratic legislators, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson of the General Assembly for “disorderly behavior” after three members led protest chants for gun safety on the Floor of the chamber last week. I am happy that Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson were reinstated.
The Tennessee House Republicans continue to fail to act on gun reform to protect innocent lives from deadly consequences. Instead, they have doubled down in a horrifying attack on democracy, rooted in anti-Blackness and white supremacy. These events are a reminder that racism is alive and well and the fight for justice continues.
Not only was the expulsion of these Representatives an injustice to the members, but in doing so, it left nearly 140,000 Tennesseans without the Representation they elected. Here in Minnesota, we are taking steps to ensure our democracy and the people’s voices are uplifted and honored by working to pass bills like the Democracy for the People Act and Rank Choice Voting. On March 3, Governor Tim Walz signed into law the largest expansion of voting rights in Minnesota in the last half-century. The law restores voting rights for over 55,000 formerly incarcerated people in Minnesota.
Stay connected with the legislature
It is easy to stay connected to news from the State Capitol. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website.
Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time.
It’s an honor to represent our community in the Minnesota House.
Sincerely,
Leigh Finke
State Representative – 66A
Committee Assignments:
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Human Services Policy
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Legacy Finance
Legislative Assistant
Robin Mercer-Taylor
robin.mercer-taylor@house.mn.gov