Dear Neighbors,
Legislative activity is picking up, as deadlines to pass bills through committees are quickly approaching. Below is a Capitol update:
Upcoming Town Hall Meeting
Please mark your calendar for an upcoming community listening session next Saturday, March 11. Senator Carolyn Laine and I invite you to attend and share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions for a successful remainder of the 2017 legislative session. Here are the details:
DATE:
Saturday, March 11
TIME & LOCATION:
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Mississippi Library, 410 Mississippi St NE, Fridley, MN 55432
REAL ID
Last Thursday night, the Minnesota House debated and passed HF 3 to bring Minnesota in compliance with federal Real ID laws. The House version allows individuals two choices; a federally compliant Real ID and a non-compliant Minnesota driver’s license. Disappointingly, the House Majority attached an unnecessary provision to the bill that would deny some of our immigrant Minnesota neighbors, friends and community members, the ability to apply for a non-compliant Minnesota driver’s license. The GOP Senate’s version of this bill, which has bipartisan support among senators, had no such provision.
Immigrants have been a part of Minnesota’s rich history. They have strengthened our communities on many different levels including the start-up of places of worship, colleges and businesses. Additionally, from a public safety standpoint, it is in all of our best interest have everyone licensed, trained and insured on our roads.
Hopefully this matter will be resolved in a House-Senate conference committee and Governor Dayton will be able to sign a clean Real ID bill into law.
Regents
A joint convention of the House and Senate met Wednesday night to elect Regents to govern the University of Minnesota. This year, four Regents were elected, one each from the 2nd, 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts and one at-large to serve six-year terms. The Regent Candidate Advisory Council interviewed 17 candidates and forwarded twelve candidates to the Joint Legislative Committee. The Joint Senate and House Committee devolved into partisan nominations, including purity test questions about abortion fetal tissue research, and the surprise recommendation of an unvetted candidate and former Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum.
In the end, I voted for the candidates supported by the U of M student groups. Those elected (or re-elected) were former Speaker and Regent Steve Sviggum, General Mills CEO Ken Powell, healthcare executive Darrin Rosha and Minnesota Power’s David McMillan which excluded two of the student recommendations.
Bills I’m Authoring
As of this week, five of my bills will have been heard in committee. One of my bipartisan bills I mentioned in an update earlier this month will meet the first committee deadline on March 10. HF 1067would make it easier for teachers to earn graduate credits so they can teach college courses. High school students are offered these “concurrent enrollment” opportunities to gain college credit before they even graduate from high school. The bill received a hearing in the Higher Education Committee and is being considered for its inclusion in the final Education Omnibus bill. Mounds View School Superintendent Chris Lennox and Irondale High School Teacher Rich Rosivach testified in support of the bill.
As always, please feel free to contact me with your thoughts, ideas and concerns. I can be reached at 651-296-5510 or by email at rep.connie.bernardy@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Connie Bernardy
State Representative