Dear Neighbors,
Before I get into the bulk of today's update, I would like to set some time aside to speak about an issue I am very concerned about. The recent approval of the Line 3 pipeline permit is a distressing and disastrous outcome for our shared environment. The acquiescence of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Governor Walz’s refusal to take action is heartbreaking. Not only does this pipeline pose extraordinary risk to Minnesota's waterways, it will also have detrimental effects on environments downstream from us and contribute to our ongoing climate change crisis. This pipeline is opposed by many Minnesotans and several important groups like Red Lake, White Earth, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Honor the Earth, Friends of the Headwaters, the Sierra Club, and the Youth Climate Intervenors. If this is something you care about as well, I encourage you to contact the MPCA and Governor Walz to demand that they take action to stop this environmental disaster before it is too late.
House Passes New Covid-19 Economic Assistance Package
Yesterday, we met for our 7th special session of the year to approve the Governor’s continued emergency powers and to pass an assistance package that will help our most vulnerable neighbors, and local businesses stay afloat during this ongoing crisis. The DFL led the way in designing this package and had to fight hard for this aid, particularly the unemployment aid extension. True to our bipartisan nature we managed to find a path that works for both sides of the aisle while also being a victory for our entire state. Here are a few of the key pieces of the Covid-19 Economic Assistance Package:
- Extends Unemployment Benefits: Provides up to 13 additional weeks in unemployment benefits for MN workers who have exhausted all federal and state benefits. There are an estimated 100,000 MN workers who could qualify for this extension, showing how needed this extension is.
- Business Assistance Grants: Provides $216.5 million from the General Fund in grants to restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and many other entities directly affected by the executive orders and the pandemic. It is estimated that these grants will be able to assist over 6,000 businesses that have been hurt by Covid-19.
- Certain Fees Waived for Hospitality Industry: This is another straight-forward practical action we can take to help ease the financial burden our local businesses are facing. While this is a smaller portion of the total relief, it should go a long way towards helping these vulnerable businesses.
You can read more about this bill here.
Assigned Chair of Local Government Committee
Committee chairs were assigned this month, and it was announced that I will chair the Local Government Committee. I look forward to this opportunity and I am sure there will be a smooth transition from our seemingly perpetual session in 2020 to the 2021 legislative session. As Chair I will be sure to keep you informed and up to date on everything our committee is working on.
New Budget Forecast
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) announced the November Economic Forecast, projecting a $641 million surplus for the current budget cycle, while a deficit of $1.273 billion is projected for the 2022-2023 biennium beginning July 1.
Testing at Home Now Available
Testing is now easier than ever with at home testing available for all Minnesotans. This testing is available for everyone, with or without symptoms, at no cost. Visit the Vault Medical Services website to order a test. When you are ready to take the test, you will log in to access the Vault virtual waiting room and do a video visit with a Vault test supervisor. They can give you instructions and make sure you do the test the right way. You will then send the test to the lab in Oakdale, Minnesota, using the prepaid package. Once it arrives at the lab, you will get your test results by email in 24-48 hours.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.sandra.masin@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-3533. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here. You can also follow me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Sandra Masin
State Representative