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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Tony Albright (R)

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Legislative Update (February 4, 2019)

Monday, February 4, 2019

Friends, 
 

On Wednesday, the House State Government Finance Division heard House File 14, a bill that would allow Minnesota to take advantage of federal election security funds provided under the Help America Vote Act. Federal law requires a state match to take advantage of the federal funds.

On a party-line vote, House Democrats voted down my amendment to provide the funding for the state’s matching portion of the funds, the same amount indicated in Secretary of State Steve Simon's budget request (page 27). Instead of fully funding the election security measures, House Democrats chose to advance the bill without the required funding match attached.

We are nearly a full month into session—it's puzzling that Democrats not only haven't passed this bill off the floor, but are voting down amendments in committee to provide the required state matching funds. We all agree election security is important and want to put funding in place to protect our voting systems. The sooner we provide these funds, the sooner our Secretary of State can take steps to ensure fair and safe elections. The decision by House Democrats to not fund this today raises the question of what games will be played with this important legislation.

In a press release last May, Secretary of State Steve Simon sounded the alarm on the urgent need for the election security funding, and said that failure to provide the funding would be a "direct threat to our democracy.”

On January 3, Secretary Simon reiterated the need to act quickly on the elections security legislation, stating:

“Protecting the security of our elections systems remains a critical need,” said Simon. “Though we have no evidence of a breach or even an attempt to breach our systems in 2018, we cannot rely on past successes alone to deter potential future attacks on our system. I am pleased that both Speaker-elect Hortman and Leader Gazelka agree that this important federal investment in our democracy should be allocated quickly so that my team can get to work on needed security.”

Rep. Michael Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park, Chair of the House State Government Finance Division and Chief Author of HF14, stated in the same press release from the Secretary of State's Office (emphasis added): “This should’ve gotten done last year,” said Representative Michael Nelson (DFL – Brooklyn Park). “I’m committed to working with Speaker Hortman and my counterparts in the Senate to make sure this gets done quickly and early in the session.”

The bill—without the necessary state match funding—is heading to the Ways and Means Committee with a recommendation that the bill be placed on the General Register.


Please Contact Me

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any legislation put before the House, or any other matters to which I can be of assistance. You can set up a time to visit me at the Capitol by calling me at 651-296-5185 or contact me via email at rep.tony.albright@house.mn.

Enjoy your week,

Tony