Dear Neighbors,
April has been a busy month. Here are a few important updates:
Women’s Foundation Summit
It was an honor to keynote the Women's Foundation of Minnesota Economic Opportunity Summit last week. It’s crucial that we continue to engage in these conversations about advancing gender equity and economic opportunity.
Thank You for Attending Coffee and Kulan
We had great conversations on Tax Day at Coffee and Kulan, thanks to all of the community members and our invited guests to discuss Trump’s tax bill and what Minnesotans need to know about Gov. Dayton’s proposed tax bill. You can watch some of that conversation here if you couldn’t attend.
Fighting for Clean Water
On Monday, the Minnesota House narrowly passed a Republican-authored bill to prohibit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) from implementing proposed rules for nitrogen fertilizer use. Authorized under 1989’s Groundwater Protection Act, the rules would protect Minnesota’s water resources by minimizing nitrate pollution. Nitrates in drinking water is a serious health hazard, especially for fetuses and babies.
No Minnesotan should ever experience preventable health risks from breathing polluted air or from drinking unsafe water. We should ensure all Minnesotans are safe from pollution. Too many Minnesotans are facing unsafe drinking water, and for Minneapolis residents who drink water from the Mississippi, these clean water rules are very important to protect. We need to set a few ground rules for how and when to apply fertilizers, especially in areas already heavily polluted or more susceptible to pollution.
Governor Dayton sent a letter indicating he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
Gun Safety Action Continues
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America held a large rally in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday at their day on the hill, followed by legislative meetings. Today, as the nation remembers the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting, thousands of Minnesota students walked out and joined a rally at the Capitol calling for gun safety measures.
While Speaker Daudt and legislative Republicans are stopping gun safety measures at every step, there’s still time in the legislative session to get something done. Minnesotans expect us to deliver on common-sense gun safety measures that will make our families, communities, and Minnesota safer. I’m not afraid of Minnesotans who want common sense gun violence prevention, and my Republican colleagues should join our effort to make communities safer by passing criminal background checks and other changes that a majority of Minnesotans support.
Omnibus Finance Bills Move Forward
As the third committee deadline passes, most finance bills have been passed out of their respective committees and are onto the next step. Now that Republicans have announced their supplemental budget targets and begun moving these bills, it’s clear that they’re not interested in investing in the things Minnesotans value like expanding quality early childhood education, keeping college tuition down, making healthcare more accessible and affordable, keeping seniors safe and secure in retirement, and ensuring every Minnesotan has an opportunity to provide a better future for their family.
The finance bills that moved forward this week include: Legacy, Education, Higher Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Natural Resources, Transportation, Agriculture, Public Safety, Jobs and Energy, and State Government. There are still several significant issues without a Republican House bill, including a tax bill and a public infrastructure jobs bill.
Action Alert - Tip Penalty
A bill to create a wage penalty for workers who earn tips (HF 4061) was heard in the House Jobs Committee on Monday, and added into the Republican Omnibus Jobs & Energy bill today. The bill would create a tip penalty through a two-tiered minimum wage for tipped employees.
All working people deserve fair wages for a day’s work. Republicans have made it clear that they don’t believe Minnesota workers have a right to a living wage. They continue to attempt to cut wages for working Minnesotans, and they continue to fight the increase in the minimum wage passed in 2014. Last year, they tried to stop Minneapolis from raising local minimum wages and expanding earned sick and safe time ordinances. Now they want to cut wages for tipped workers, all while cutting taxes for the wealthy, corporations, and tobacco companies.
Additionally, other anti-worker Republican bills like the Medicaid work requirement, the prohibition of the MinnesotaCare buy-in, the gutting of clean drinking water rules, and anti-protester bills are all moving forward in their respective omnibus bills. We need to speak out and we will need Governor Dayton to stand against these bad ideas to protect the most vulnerable Minnesotans.
Rep. Thissen Appointed to Supreme Court
This week Rep. Paul Thissen, former Speaker of the House, resigned his legislative seat today and was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Justice Thissen will serve Minnesotans well, and I look forward to his good work continuing on the state’s highest court.
Congratulations Coach Lindsey Whalen!
I’m excited about the selection of Coach Whalen to lead the Gopher's Women's Basketball team to victory. Congratulations Lindsey! #skiumah
Please contact me if you have questions at 651-296-4257 or rep.ilhan.omar@house.mn and sign up for my email updates here.
Sincerely,
Ilhan Omar
State Representative