Legislative Update - January 29, 2021

Dear Neighbors, 

We’re wrapping up our first month of the legislative session, and though it hasn’t been ideal, our remote work has not slowed progress. Committees are hearing legislation, several bills have already passed off the House floor, and with Governor Walz announcing his proposed budget, the process of crafting our state budget has begun. 

Here’s the latest from St. Paul:

The COVID-19 Recovery Budget

This week, Governor Walz announced his initial proposal for Minnesota’s two year state budget, with a large focus on helping Minnesota recover from the pandemic. The proposal is a great start with investments in supporting working families, ensuring students catch up on learning, and helping small businesses stay afloat while driving Minnesota’s economic recovery. There’s still a lot to take into account, including a new budget forecast in February, but I’m glad to see that the Governor’s proposal addresses the challenges we face today and invests in the future. 

COVID-19 Business Relief

As part of the COVID-19 assistance package we passed last year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue recently issued $67.3 million in COVID-19 Business Relief Payments to 3,981 restaurants, bars, gyms, and similar businesses across the state. 

If you own or know of an eligible business that has not received a payment, contact the Department of Revenue through the online inquiry process. The inquiry process will be open until Friday, February 5, when an additional round of payments will be made after that date for businesses that qualify.  

The Latest in Capital Investment

Yesterday, we finished our second and final hearing on the importance of equity when investing in capital projects throughout our state. The disparities faced by black, Indigenous, and people of color throughout Minnesota are real, and intentional or not, racism comes with an economic cost. As chair of the House Capital Investment Committee, it’s my intention that we view our work through this lens of racial equity. 

The presentations we heard this week helped to lay the necessary groundwork for crafting a bonding bill that not only rejects projects that would perpetuate these disparities, but one that actively invests in the needs of disenfranchised communities and peoples. I was extremely disappointed that we received pushback from some of my republican colleagues during this informative opportunity, with one remarking that “All of this race stuff is divisive.”

The conversation around the inherent racism in our system can be uncomfortable, but that only reinforces that it’s a conversation worth having. We need to bring up “this race stuff” more often in our legislative work, not less.

Here’s to a new month of continued progress. Please reach out to me if I can be of any assistance by phone at 651-296-4262 or email at rep.fue.lee@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely, 

Fue Lee

State Representative