Dear Neighbor,
Precinct caucuses will take place 7 p.m. March 1 and I encourage you to participate in these local meetings. I will pass along more information regarding caucuses, including locations, as we get closer.
As for news from the Capitol, people have been asking me for information regarding our status on REAL ID and whether a special session will take place to address that issue and a couple of others.
The federal Department of Homeland Security recently announced that REAL ID enforcement to board an airplane will take effect no sooner than Jan. 22, 2018. If states have yet to fully comply, extensions can be granted until October 2020. That means we have time during the regular 2016 legislative session to address this matter, especially concerns related to data privacy any costs incurred by implementation.
There also have been suggestions from the governor that a special session could take place to take on economic disparities, along with unemployment on the Iron Range. Joint House-Senate working groups have been meeting on these topics and REAL ID as well. I am co-chairman of the group working on unemployment for the Iron Range.
That part of the state has been hit hard by layoffs in the steel industry. The 26-week window for receiving unemployment is closing for hundreds of idled workers. In contrast to many other parts of Minnesota, employment opportunities are limited on the Iron Range. This could leave many families with no real choice but to relocate, further damaging the area.
We are working to find solutions, but this is another issue where many questions need to be answered before taking legislative action. A number of factors are at play, including some at the international level.
I will keep you in the loop as things develop. Our March 8 start to the regular session is later than usual due to renovation taking place at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Tom