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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL)

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Legislative Update- September 20, 2019

Friday, September 20, 2019

Representative Jim Davnie

* 443 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-0173

E-mail:
rep.jim.davnie@house.mn

Legislative Assistant:
Brittney Sunderland 651-296-1928

Committee Assignments:
Chair: Education Finance Division
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
Ways and Means

Biographical Information:
Home: Minneapolis 2741 - 39th Ave. S., 55406;
Occupation: Executive Director, SciMathMN
Business: Minneapolis; 2400 Park Ave. S., 55404
Education: B.S., psychology/social work, University of Minnesota; M.Ed., education, University of Minnesota; M.P.A., University of Minnesota
Elected: 2000
Term: 10th
Family: Married, 2 children


* Prefers interim mail at this address.

 

Rep. Jim Davnie (63A) - Legislative Update


Dear Neighbors,

 

For families throughout our state, it’s back-to-school season. I’d like to wish students and families an excellent 2019-2020 school year!

 


Minnesotans expect their children to receive a world-class education no matter where they live. But for decades the state’s commitment to public schools has not kept pace with rising costs. Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representatives are committed to addressing historic underfunding of public schools, and we acknowledge that doing so is going to take more than a single legislative session. Despite the challenges under a divided state legislature, we worked with our teacher-in-chief, Governor Tim Walz to make progress at the State Capitol this year.


When Minnesotans talked to us about education over the past year, a consistent theme emerged: Parents want great schools for their own children, but they also want the same for their neighbors, friends, relatives, and coworkers. Minnesotans understand that we’re all in this together, and that investing in our schools is an investment in all of our futures. It was your friends and neighbors that created the roadmap for progress this year, and we’re grateful for all who participated in the process. There’s a lot more to do, and we need your strong voice and your personal stories to continue to lead us in the right direction as we look to 2020.

 

Climate Action Caucus
Climate change is one of the top issues that I hear about from fellow community members. People from across the state are organizing in their communities and urging legislators to take action. Young people are particularly dedicated to fighting climate change. Today, hundreds of Minnesota students kicked off Climate Action Week by participating in the worldwide Youth Climate Strike. 

 

I was inspired by the march and rally at the Capitol today, all led by youth.  The speakers were compelling as they challenged us to act on climate change in a way that is also inclusive of where and how it intersects issues of race and class with a greater sense of urgency.  My colleagues and I are standing in solidarity with the students as they strike. To show our support, we’ve formed a new Climate Action Caucus. This dedicated group of legislators, which I’m proud to be a part of, will work with Minnesotans on a bold, comprehensive plan to fight climate change and create a future in which we all thrive.  This past session the House offered a number of legislative responses to climate policy only to have the Senate refuse to consider any of them.  I hope this movement changes enough minds in the Senate majority to make next session different.

Veterans Home Truss Bridge Update

I’m pleased to share that construction has resumed on the Veterans Home Truss Bridge over Minnehaha Creek.

 

After the 111-year-old bridge closed due to structural concerns, I worked to secure necessary funding in 2017 to ensure the long-term stability of the structure. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the Minnesota Department of Administration have been working diligently to develop updated bridge design documents in preparation for construction.  Initial bridge reconstruction proved faulty, requiring a new approach and delaying completion of the project.

 

The construction process is expected to last approximately four months, with completion and bridge re-opening by year end. Some finishing work and painting will be completed in spring 2020 when weather permits; this may require a temporary closing of the bridge.

 

You can sign up here to receive regular updates throughout the construction process this fall.

 

LCCMR Survey

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) is seeking input for a strategic plan that will guide Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) funding for the next six years. I encourage you to take our short, anonymous survey and share it with anyone who might be interested in participating. The survey will be open until Monday, October 28.

 

Be Heard on Cannabis

We’re inviting Minnesotans to join the conversation about how we will safely and responsibly create a comprehensive framework for legalization and the most thoughtful adult-use cannabis law in the country. 

 

Legalizing cannabis for responsible adult use will expand access and affordability for people who rely on it to treat PTSD or chronic pain, allow law enforcement to focus their resources on dangerous crimes, and expand personal freedom for Minnesotans, including the thousands of minor offenders who have been swept up in our criminal justice system.

 

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2s-R83st3A7ZUdncr68R4PDBgsUCrRHzIe52CO9Ox4HcTf3JB2K6RUt29ts5dsItEJb8C1olOJY0C3fq1UKRld0-ruwZe5dbaQbzGBu0SV9hCC7uR0DxeycLs_gqOHGqbHo0MF1n

We want to hear what Minnesotans think, which is why we launched statewide Community Conversations on Cannabis to hear from people in every corner of our state. You can sign up for updates and take the Speaker’s cannabis survey at our new website here. Below are the details for the upcoming community session in Minneapolis:

 

Minneapolis "Be Heard on Cannabis" Community Conversation

  • When: Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 PM
  • Where: Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
  • Who: Hosted by Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Assistant Senate Minority Leader Jeff Hayden, Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, Sen. Kari Dziedzic, Sen. Foung Hawj, Rep. Raymond Dehn, Rep. Fue Lee, and Rep. Diane Loeffler, with Special Guest: Dr. Raj Sethuraju, Associate Professor at Metro State University

 

MN Historical Society Public Input Meetings

I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know about a series of statewide meetings to hear from the public on the name of the Historic Fort Snelling site. These meetings are an opportunity for MNHS to engage in a dialogue with Minnesotans over how well the current name represents the history of the site. The question they are trying to answer is: does this name “Historic Fort Snelling” reflect the history of the place, and the many different people who have crossed paths there throughout time?

A public forum will be held in St. Paul on Monday, October 14, 2019, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

More information on each forum can be found at: http://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/naming. If you can’t make it to one of these forums, I encourage you to fill out the public input survey form on our site to voice your opinion on this important process.

Keep in Touch

Please keep in touch and never hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, or ideas.

I appreciate hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Jim Davnie

State Representative 

 

 

 

News Items

·RELEASE: Minnesotans Can Now Take Action on Racially Restrictive Covenants on Home Titles - (Posted: 2019-08-01)

·Legislative Update- July 29, 2019 - (Posted: 2019-07-29)

·RELEASE: Gov. Walz Signs into law Rep. Jim Davnie’s bill to allow Minnesota homeowners to denounce racial covenants on home titles - (Posted: 2019-06-11)

 

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