Legislative Update- January 31, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the New Year so far.

The 2020 legislative session is just around the corner; our work in St. Paul will get underway on February 11. As the chair of the House K-12 Education Finance Committee, I recently had the opportunity to preview the House DFL’s priorities for Minnesota students and families with Minnesota Public Radio. It’s encouraging to know that addressing mental health and the opportunity gap will be key focuses of the Senate Majority as well, and I look forward to working together to find real and effective solutions that puts students and their needs first.

You can read more in the article here.

Minneapolis Public Schools Comprehensive District Design

The Comprehensive District Design (CDD) examines how Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) educates students, how they are placed in and transported to our schools, and what opportunities are available for students across the city. Community members are encouraged to attend and provide feedback. You can check out the website for updated informational meetings and additional opportunities to share your thoughts.

2020 U.S. Census- Be Counted!

The once-a-decade U.S. Census count, which counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories, and is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency, kicks off on April 1 of this year. Every year, billions of dollars are needed for hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, bridges and other public resources, and federal funds are delivered based on the U.S. Census data collected, which is why having an accurate count is vital. 

Please join me, my legislative colleagues, and Minnesota Attorney General Ellison on Monday, February 3 at the Phillips Community Center for this critical conversation. The census is key to our democracy, our community, and the services we need, want, and deserve from our government. It's our census, let's use it. Here are the details:

• 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Phillips Community Center, 2323 11^th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Minnesota’s Presidential Primary

Minnesotans will be able to vote in a presidential nomination primary this year and it’s important to cast your vote to help ensure our government is representative of our shared values. Primary Day in Minnesota will be on March 3. Early voting started on January 17; if you’d like to cast your ballot before Primary Day, you can request an absentee ballot here. More information is available on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

A number of constituents have raised concerns regarding the need to chose a partisan party ballot for the presidential primary, and that information being released to the state's four major parties. Minnesotans have never liked partisan voter registration proposals, as they do in other states. While this isn’t quite that, it’s close enough to cause discomfort. The DFL-led House has proposed legislation this year to protect that data privacy. To date, the GOP-led Senate has not joined in that priority. We’ll see what happens to that this session.

Truss Bridge Reopens

Earlier this month, the historic Truss Bridge at the Minneapolis Veterans Home campus reopened. The bridge was closed in 2014 after being found structurally deficient, which closed 50% of the access to the Minneapolis Veterans Home, inconveniencing residents, families, staff, and the broader community. Beyond the inconvenience, it threatened access to the Home by first responders in case of any type of emergency.

Working with Senator Patricia Torres Ray and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, I was able to secure funding in the 2017 public works bill. The bridge was rebuilt respecting its status on the National Register of Historic Places. Two years later and we have a new bridge to better serve the whole community. Feel free to swing by and walk, bike, scooter, drive over our new bridge!

Town Hall February 8

Senator Torres Ray, Representative Wagenius and myself will be holding a pre-session town hall opportunity next Saturday, February 8, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4120 S 17th Ave, Minneapolis.  Please join us and bring your questions and concerns for this upcoming legislative session.

Keep in Touch

Please continue to contact me with input, questions, or ideas. Don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be of assistance at 651-296-0173 or by responding to this email.

Sincerely,

Jim Davnie

State Representative