Dear Neighbors,

Last week, the House convened with the Senate in a special session to wrap up work on a new two-year state budget. We’re working hard to deliver a budget that helps all Minnesotans recover from the difficulties of the past year and have the opportunity for long-term success. So far, we’ve passed bipartisan compromise budget legislation for commerce, climate & energy, higher education, and agriculture, as well as to fund projects for clean water, recreation, arts, and cultural heritage through Minnesota’s exceptional Legacy Amendment account.

Much of my work is focused on enacting a series of meaningful reforms for police accountability and funding for public safety that is both effective and treats all citizens – across all races - with dignity and respect. To stop the senseless trauma that too many people, families, and neighborhoods continue to experience – especially communities of color – at this critical moment in our state’s history, Minnesotans deserve a fair and thoughtful approach to better policing. In the regular legislative session, House DFLers put forth a proposal developed incorporating the voices of people of color who are the most impacted when police practices go wrong. We continue working toward a compromise with Senate Republicans on this vitally important work within our Public Safety & Judiciary budget.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting on July 7

On Wednesday night, July 7 at 6 p.m., I invite you to join Rep. Rena Moran, Sen. Sandy Pappas, and me for a Virtual Town Hall meeting to recap the legislative session. The event will be streamed live on Facebook, and you can participate on my Facebook page at fb.com/repmariani.

The event is nonpartisan and everyone in the community is welcome. If you have a question, feel free to submit it ahead of time here. If you can’t join us, as always, I invite you to contact me directly with your thoughts and questions. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-9714 or email at rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn.

Thank you for the honor of serving our community at the State Capitol.

Sincerely,

Carlos Mariani
State Representative