Dear Neighbors,
There are fewer than 72 hours remaining in the legislative session, and the governor and lawmakers have been working to finalize the details about a supplemental state budget. Yesterday, I had the honor to join members of our building trades unions and other labor allies in support of a strong jobs bill. I’m hopeful we can come together to invest in important infrastructure priorities in our region and across the state.
Bipartisan Budget Agreement Reached
Earlier this week, Governor Walz, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller announced a bipartisan agreement on a supplemental budget using our historic $9.2 billion surplus. The framework includes $4 billion in investments to move our state forward and $4 billion in tax cuts and other initiatives to help Minnesotans with rising costs. We also leave $4 billion in reserves in case of economic difficulty down the road. Of our investments, we invest $1 billion toward Education – an incredible amount in a non-budget year, $1 billion toward Health and Human Services, $450 million toward Public Safety, and a $1.4 billion capital investment package.
I have the honor to serve on the conference committee charged with reaching a final agreement on an E-12 Education funding package. The House’s version of the bill included historic investments in student and educator mental health, including funding to enable schools to hire additional counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses. Unfortunately, the Senate Republicans have resisted these urgent investments. We have the resources available to make a big difference right now in the final days of the session; all we need is bipartisan cooperation. Here are my remarks from Wednesday’s meeting where I urged my colleagues to step forward with these critical investments.
HomeHelpMN
Homeowners who experienced economic harm during the pandemic can now apply to receive up to $35,000 in assistance through a new state program called HomeHelpMN. The program, funded, with $109 million from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will help Minnesotans with their mortgages and other housing-related expenses. You can start the application process through the HomeHelpMN website and can read more in a Minnesota Reformer article.
Reminder: Frontline Worker Pay
A couple of weeks ago, lawmakers reached agreement on a package of bonus payments for frontline workers who couldn’t work from home during the darkest parts of COVID-19. Remember to visit frontlinepay.mn.gov to subscribe to important updates. Once the application process opens – sometimes in June – workers will have 45 days to apply. A full FAQ document, including eligibility information, is available here.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me with your input, ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. You can contact me by phone at 651-296-0172 or email at rep.julie.sandstede@house.mn. You can also follow me on Facebook. It’s an honor to represent you.
Together,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative