Minnesota Leadership 2021

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Leadership Contact List 2021 Name Address Phone Email Governor Tim 130 State Capitol 651-201-3400 Mail Form: Walz and Lt. 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther https://mn.gov/governor/contact/ Governor Peggy King Jr. Blvd. Flanagan St. Paul, MN 55155 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovTi mWalz/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/GovTi mWalz https://twitter.com/LtGovFlanagan Commissioner Minnesota Department of 651-582-8208 [email protected] Dr. Heather Education Mueller, 1500 Highway 36 West Twitter: Minnesota Roseville, MN 55113 https://twitter.com/hmuellermn Department of Education Minnesota Senate Senator Jeremy 95 University Avenue W. 651-296-5649 [email protected] Miller, President Minnesota Senate Bldg, Room of the Senate 3107 Twitter: St. Paul, MN 55155 https://twitter.com/jeremyrmiller Senator Paul 3113 Minnesota Senate Bldg. 651-296-4875 https://www.senate.mn/members Gazelka, St. Paul, MN 55155 /member_email_form.php?member Majority Leader _id=1169 Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulgazelka Senator Susan 2227 Minnesota Senate Bldg. 651-296-4166 Mail Form: Kent, Minority St. Paul, MN 55155 https://www.senate.mn/members/ Leader member_email_form.php?member_id =1215 Twitter: https://twitter.com/susankentmn Prepared by AMSD: February 2021 1 Senator Roger 95 University Avenue W. 651-296-1253 https://www.senate.mn/members Chamberlain, Minnesota Senate Bldg, Room /email-form/1187 Chair, E-12 3225 Finance St. Paul, MN 55155 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rcchamberl ain1 Senator Julie 95 University Avenue W. Rosen, Finance Minnesota Senate Bldg, Room 651-296-5713 [email protected] Committee 2113 St. Paul, MN 55155 Twitter: @Julie RosenMN Minnesota House of Representatives Representative 463 State Office Building 651-296-4280 [email protected] Melissa 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Hortman, King Jr. Blvd. Twitter: Speaker of the St. Paul, MN 55155 https://twitter.com/melissahortma House n Representative 459 State Office Building 651-296-7026 [email protected] Ryan Winkler, St. Paul, MN 55155 Twitter: House Majority https://twitter.com/_RyanWinkler Leader Representative 267 State Office Building * 651-296-5364 [email protected] Kurt Daudt, St. Paul, MN 55155 Twitter: https://twitter.com/kdaudt House Minority Leader Representative 591 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther 651-296-4192 [email protected] Ruth King Jr. Blvd. Richardson, St Paul, MN 55155 Twitter: Chair, Education https://twitter.com/RuthForHo Policy use Committee Representative 443 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther 651-296-0173 [email protected] Jim Davnie, King Jr. Blvd. Twitter: Education St Paul, MN 55155 https://twitter.com/jdavnie Finance Committee Representative 479 State Office Building [email protected] Rena Moran, St. Paul, MN 55155 651-296-5158 Prepared by AMSD: February 2021 2 Ways and Means Twitter: Committee https://twitter.com/renamoran Representative Dave Pinto, 439 State Office Building 651-296-4199 [email protected] Early Childhood St. Paul, MN 55155 Finance and Twitter: @DavePinto Policy Division Prepared by AMSD: February 2021 3 .

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Presidential Election Results
2016 Election Overview The outcome of the 2016 elections has definitely altered the landscape for transportation policy and funding initiatives. From the Presidency down to state legislative races, we face a new legislative dynamic and many new faces. What hasn’t changed: the huge need for resources to increase the nation’s and the state’s investment in the transportation system and bipartisan agreement on that fact. Prior to the outcome of Tuesday’s election we were hearing from candidates on both sides of the aisle that increasing investments in infrastructure was an area of agreement. Candidates for Minnesota’s legislature brought up the need for a comprehensive, long-term transportation funding package over and over again in news stories, candidate profiles and candidate forums. We were hearing more from candidates about transportation than we have in previous election cycles. Voters in other states, made their voices heard by approving ballot initiatives in 22 states that increased and stabilized funding for transportation. As we head into 2017, transportation advocates have a huge opportunity to capitalize on the widespread support for infrastructure improvements. However, it will take the involvement of transportation advocates across the state making their voices heard to rise above partisan squabbling and the many other issues that will be on the table. National Presidential Election Results Electoral Votes Needed to Win: 270 *Remaining: 16 Trump (R) Electoral Votes 290 Popular Vote 60,375,961 Clinton (D) Electoral Votes 232 Popular Vote 61,047,207 Minnesota Clinton (D) percent 46.9% votes 1,366,676 Trump (R) percent 45.4% votes 1,322,891 The race for the White House defied the polls and expectations as Donald Trump won more than the needed 270 votes in the electoral college while Hillary Clinton narrowly won the popular vote.
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2019 Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division
2019 Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division Meets: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 12:45 p.m. in Capitol 120 DFL Committee Members Committee Chair Rep. Michael Howard (DFL) District: 50A Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL) District: 65B 451 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 381 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St Paul, MN 55155 St Paul, MN 55155 651-296-7158 651-296-9714 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] @mikehowardmn @Cmarianirosa Rep. John Lesch (DFL) District: 66B Vice Chair 563 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL) District: 49A St Paul, MN 55155 549 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 651-296-4224 St Paul, MN 55155 Email: [email protected] 651-296-4363 @johnlesch Email: [email protected] @heather_edelson Rep. Jamie Long (DFL) District: 61B 517 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Rep. Michelle (Shelly) Christensen (DFL) St Paul, MN 55155 District: 39B 651-296-5375 577 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Email: [email protected] St Paul, MN 55155 @Jamiemlong 651-296-4244 Email: [email protected] Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL) District: 42A @Shelly39B 569 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St Paul, MN 55155 Rep. Jack Considine Jr. (DFL) District: 19B 651-296-0141 433 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Email: [email protected] St Paul, MN 55155 @KellyForUs 651-296-3248 Email: [email protected] Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL) District: 64B @jackconsidineMN Author of HF 8, Criminal Background Checks bill 439 Rev.
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STATE of MINNESOTA Office of Governor Mark Dayton 130 State Capitol+ 75 Rev
STATE OF MINNESOTA Office of Governor Mark Dayton 130 State Capitol+ 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard+ Saint Paul, MN 55155 May 28, 2014 The Honorable Sandra L. Pappas President of the Senate Rooml20, State Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Dear Madam President: I have received, approved, signed, and deposited in the Office of the Secretary of State Chapter 293, Senate File 1770, the Timberjay bill, with the exception of the line item veto listed below: • Page 1, lines 1.15-1.17: "Receipts credited to the account are appropriated to the legislative auditor for the purpose of oversight relating to security of data stored and transmitted by state systems." I have great respect for the Legislative Auditor and the important work of his office to promote accountability among state agencies, improve how state government operates, and ensure we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. It is with those same principles in mind that I regretfully line item veto this open and standing appropriation. It is not fiscally responsible to appropriate an ongoing amount of money without articulating the cost to perform the new duties outlined in the law. By next session, the Department of Public Safety will be better able to estimate the revenue generated to the data security account, and the Legislative Auditor will have time to estimate the cost to provide oversight relating to the security of data stored by all state systems. In addition, I am concerned that the Legislature did not include an appropriation to MN.IT Services.
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MBC Powerpoint
Minnesota Health Baby Act Reid LeBeau The Jacobson Law Group Agenda 1. The Minnesota Legislature 2. Minnesota Healthy Baby Act 3. Lobbying Your Legislators Part I - The Minnesota Legislature o The Minnesota legislature is bicameral – meaning we have two houses that make up the state legislature o 2014 election ushered in a mixed government o The Minnesota House of Representatives has 134 members that serve two year terms . 72 GOP, 62 DFL o The Minnesota Senate has 67 members that serve four year terms . 39 DFL, 28 GOP o Governor Dayton (DFL) was reelected in 2014 Legislative Session o Laws are passed or changed during the legislative session . Budget year = January to May. Bonding year = Session is shorter & start dates are determined by leadership. 2016 = Bonding year . Session will run 10 weeks, March 8th to May 16th. o In Minnesota, session spans two years, which is called a biennium. For example, 2015 and 2016 are considered one biennium, and are referred to as the 89th Legislative Session. o During the biennium roughly 6,000 to 8,000 bills are introduced . All bills expire at the end of the biennium in which they were introduced How an Idea Becomes Law 1)Idea: o A bill is an idea for a new law or an idea to change an old law. o Anyone can suggest an idea for a bill—an individual, consumer group, professional association, government agency, or the governor. o The idea must have a House and Senate member willing to be its sponsor and move it through the legislative process How an Idea Becomes Law 2) Idea put into legal form: o The Office of the Revisor of Statutes puts the idea for a new law into proper legal form, and complies with the rules of both bodies.
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2016 House Committee Chairs
PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES 175 State Office Building Minnesota 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155 House of 651-296-2146 Fax: 651-297-8135 Representatives 800-657-3550 Kurt Daudt, Speaker FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Nov. 22, 2016 Contact: Lee Ann Schutz 651-296-0337 [email protected] House Committee structure, chairs named Committee membership is expected to be named in mid-December House Republican leadership has announced the committee structure and chairs for the 90th legislative biennium scheduled to convene Jan. 3, 2017. The plan is for 27 committees, divisions or subcommittees, one more than the 2015-16 biennium. Committee membership is expected to be named in mid-December. “Our committee chairs are eager to get to work tackling the critical issues facing Minnesota families,” House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) said in a statement. “Lowering health care costs, growing good-paying jobs, and reducing the tax burden on middle-class families will be shared priorities of Republicans in Saint Paul, and we look forward to working with the new Senate Republican Majority to build a Minnesota that works.” “We’re particularly excited about subcommittees that will focus on key issues including making childcare more affordable, caring for our aging loved ones, and ensuring that key industries like mining, forestry, and tourism remain vibrant,” added House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers). 2017-2018 Committee Names and Chair Agriculture Finance:........................................................................................Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) Agriculture Policy: ..........................................................................................Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) Capital Investment: ........................................................................................ Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) Civil Law and Data Practices Policy: ..................................................................Rep.
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Campaign Finance PCR Report
Total Pages: 23 Jul 24, 2018 Campaign Finance PCR Report Filing Period: 12/31/2018 Candidate Candidate Number of Committee Name Term Date First Name Last Name Requests Lyndon R Carlson Campaign 50 Committee Lyndon Carlson Mary Murphy Volunteer Committee Mary Murphy 1 Pelowski (Gene) Volunteer Committee Gene Pelowski Jr 1 Jean Wagenius Volunteer Committee Jean Wagenius 3 Senator (John) Marty Volunteer 2 Committee John Marty Ron Erhardt Volunteer Committee Ronnie (Ron) Erhardt 1 (Tom) Hackbarth Volunteer Committee Thomas Hackbarth 5 Urdahl (Dean) Volunteer Committee Dean Urdahl 43 Volunteers for (Larry) Nornes Larry (Bud) Nornes 3 Limmer (Warren) for Senate 1 Committee Warren Limmer Volunteers for Gunther (Robert) Robert Gunther 2 Wiger (Charles) for Senate Volunteer 3 Committee Charles (Chuck) Wiger Friends of (Michelle) Fischbach Michelle Fischbach 36 Masin (Sandra) Campaign Committee Sandra Masin 5 Committee for (Sondra) Erickson Sondra Erickson 39 Marquart (Paul) Volunteer Committee Paul Marquart 27 Ann Rest for Senate Committee Ann Rest 2 Tomassoni (David) for State Senate David Tomassoni 5 Julie Rosen for State Senate Julie Rosen 1 Peppin (Joyce) Volunteer Committee Joyce Peppin 8 Mike Nelson Volunteer Committee Michael Nelson 19 Hornstein (Frank) Volunteer Committee Frank Hornstein 1 Poppe (Jeanne) for the People 45 Committee Jeanne Poppe Melissa Hortman Campaign Committee Melissa Hortman 71 Liebling (Tina) for State House Tina Liebling 13 Mahoney (Tim) for House Timothy Mahoney 5 Leslie Davis for Governor Leslie Davis 4 Garofalo
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The Minnesota House of Representatives House Leadership Seat Melissa Hortman
The Minnesota House of Representatives House Leadership Seat Melissa Hortman .................................... 139 Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services, 651-296-2146 or 800-657-3550 Speaker of the House District Room* 296- Seat Ryan Winkler.......................................... 102 37A Koegel, Erin (DFL) .............375 ....... 5369 ..... 126 Majority Leader 48B Kotyza-Witthuhn, Carlie (DFL) ....567 ............7449 ...........81 Golden Valley—45B 58A Koznick, Jon (R) .................229 ....... 6926 ......... 5 Bloomington—49B Shelly Christensen Kurt Daudt ............................................... 23 Mike Freiberg Stillwater—39B 9B Kresha, Ron (R) ...................207 ....... 4247 ....... 12 Seat 129 Steve Elkins Seat 135 Minority Leader Seat 124 41B Kunesh-Podein, Mary (DFL)... 445 ..........4331 ......... 97 Seat 6 5B Layman, Sandy (R) ..............233 ....... 4936 ....... 38 Seat 1 Seat 11 Mary Franson Luverne—22A Alexandria—8B Joe Schomacker 59A Lee, Fue (DFL) ....................485 ....... 4262 ..... 125 Shane Mekeland House Officers Clear Lake—15B Maplewood—53A Rosemount—57B St. Peter—19A Jeff Brand 66B Lesch, John (DFL) ...............563 ....... 4224 ..... 116 Seat 128 John Huot Tou Xiong Tou Seat 134 Patrick D. Murphy .......... 142 Marilee Davis .................. 141 Seat 123 Seat 139 Chief Clerk Desk Clerk Melissa Hortman 26A Liebling, Tina (DFL) ...........477 ....... 0573 ..... 114 Timothy M. Johnson ....... 143 David G. Surdez ............. 140 Brooklyn Park—36B Seat 7 Seat 2 4A Lien, Ben (DFL) ..................415 ....... 5515 ....... 72 Speaker of the House Seat 12 Peggy Scott Ron Kresha 1st Asst. Chief Clerk Legislative Clerk John Poston Andover—35B Little Falls—9B Brooklyn Center—40B Lake Shore—9A International Falls—3A 43B Lillie, Leon (DFL) ...............367 ....... 1188 ....... 73 Gail C. Romanowski ....... 144 Bob Meyerson ................... 69 South St. Paul—52A Samantha Vang Seat 127 2nd Asst.
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December 8, 2020 Governor Tim Walz Speaker Melissa Hortman Majority
December 8, 2020 Governor Tim Walz Minority Leader Kurt Daudt Speaker Melissa Hortman Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka Majority Leader Ryan Winkler Senator Minority Leader Susan Kent Dear State Leaders: We are jointly and urgently calling upon you to act quickly toward an agreement that will provide immediate economic relief for our small businesses and communities. Rochester and Olmsted County’s business and service sector has been hit due to the pandemic, in a similar fashion to other communities around the state. The entities signed below have come together to work jointly since the pandemic in a local, coordinated effort titled “Rochester Ready” to ensure a safe and resilient recovery for the area. This unique public- private partnership group has assisted and communicate with local businesses and the community. We encourage you to also come together as state leaders during this extremely challenging and dynamic time to assist communities and businesses in need. Local units of governments in our area have thoughtfully and quickly distributed funding received through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), but much of the programs and assistance provided through that funding will expire at the end of the year. It is important that additional assistance continue into 2021, as the impacts of the pandemic will continue as well. Immediate, additional assistance for small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic and an extension of the unemployment insurance program is critically needed in our community and for the state’s economy. Sincerely, -City of Rochester -Mayo Clinic -Destination Medical Center (DMC) -Olmsted County -Diversity Council -Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce -The Greater Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau -Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc.
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Protect Minnesota Orange Star Leaders MN State Legislature As of June 1, 2019
Protect Minnesota Orange Star Leaders MN State Legislature As of June 1, 2019 Orange Star members have shown themselves to be committed to saving lives by passing gun violence prevention bills. It’s very important that we communicate our sincere thanks to these legislators... Orange Star MN Senate Members 51 Jim Carlson 40 Chris Eaton 52 Matt Klein 45 Ann Rest 59 Bobby Joe Champion 49 Melisa Franzen 41 Carolyn Laine 7 Erik Simonson 57 Greg Clausen 19 Nick Frentz 46 Ron Latz 63 Patricia Torres Ray 64 Richard Cohen 67 Foung Hawj 58 Matt Little 43 Charles Wiger 48 Steve Cwodzinski 62 Jeff Hayden 66 John Marty 50 Melissa Wiklund 61 Scott Dibble 42 Jason Isaacson 37 Jerry Newton 60 Kari Dziedzic 53 Susan Kent 65 Sandra Pappas Orange Star MN House Members These members all voted to pass the Criminal Background Checks and ERPO bills in 2019. 44B Patty Acomb 62B Aisha Gomez 20B Todd Lippert 52B Ruth Richardson 34B Kristin Bahner 51B Laurie Halverson 60A Diane Loeffler 53B Steve Sandell 42B Jamie Becker-Finn 52A Rick Hansen 61B Jamie Long 25B Duane Sauke 41A Connie Bernardy 62A Hodan Hassan 67A Tim Mahoney 7A Jennifer Schultz 57A Robert Bierman 66A Alice Hausman 56B Alice Mann 36A Zack Stephenson 19A Jeff Brand 64A Kaohly Her 65B Carlos Mariani 55A Brad Tabke 56A Hunter Cantrell 61A Frank Hornstein 51A Sandra Masin 40B Samantha Vang 50B Andrew Carlson 50A Michael Howard 42A Kelly Moller 63B Jean Wagenius 45A Lyndon Carlson 57B John Huot 65A Rena Moran 38B Ami Wazlawik 39B Shelly Christensen 44A Ginny Klevorn 33B Kelly Morrison 46A Ryan Winkler 54A Anne Claflin 37A Erin Koegel 03B Mary Murphy 14B Dan Wolgamott 19B Jack Considine 48B Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn 40A Michael Nelson 67B Jay Xiong 63A Jim Davnie 41B Mary Kunesh-Podein 60B Mohamud Noor 53A Tou Xiong 59B Raymond Dehn 59A Fue Lee 07B Liz Olson 46B Cheryl Youakim 49A Heather Edelson 66B John Lesch 05A John Persell 49B Steve Elkins 26A Tina Liebling 64B Dave Pinto 36B Speaker Melissa Hortman 43A Peter Fischer 4A Ben Lien 27B Jeanne Poppe 45B Mike Freiberg 43B Leon Lillie 48A Laurie Pryor .
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Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
MINNESOTA Vote Citizens for the Arts Legislative Candidate Survey 2016 smART! The election on November 8, 2016 will have a huge impact on the arts and on our country. If you agree with thousands of Minnesotans who believe that the arts matter, you’ll want to know where legislators stand. IMPORTANT: Visit the Secretary of State’s website to fnd out your district and where to vote: http://pollfnder.sos.state.mn.us/ READ: We’ve asked all legislative candidates fve questions about current arts issues so they can tell you how they would vote. Due to limited space, comments were limited to 3 sentences. To see full responses visit our website at www.artsmn.org ALL STARS: Look for the symbol telling you which legislators have been awarded an Arts All Star from MCA for their exceptional support for the arts at the legislature! CONNECT: With MCA on Facebook, Twitter @MNCitizen, and our website www.artsmn.org. We’ll make sure you stay informed. ASK: If your candidates didn’t respond to the survey, make sure to ask them these questions when you see them on the campaign trail! ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts com- munity and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and U.S. Congress on issues pertaining to the nonproft arts. MCA does not endorse candidates for public ofce. MCA’s successes include passing the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 which created dedi- cated funding for the arts in the Minnesota State Constitution for the next 25 years, and the Creative Minnesota research project at CreativeMN.org.
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2020 Minnesota House of Representatives Seating Chart
The Minnesota House of Representatives House Leadership Seat Melissa Hortman .................................... 139 Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services, 651-296-2146 or 800-657-3550 Speaker of the House District Room* 296- Seat Ryan Winkler.......................................... 102 44A Klevorn, Ginny (DFL) .........581 ....... 5511 ..... 104 Majority Leader 37A Koegel, Erin (DFL) .............375 ....... 5369 ..... 126 48B Kotyza-Witthuhn, Carlie (DFL) ....567 ............7449 ...........81 Golden Valley—45B Bloomington—49B Shelly Christensen Kurt Daudt ............................................... 23 Mike Freiberg Stillwater—39B 58A Koznick, Jon (R) .................229 ....... 6926 ......... 5 Seat 129 Steve Elkins Seat 135 Minority Leader Seat 124 9B Kresha, Ron (R) ...................207 ....... 4247 ....... 12 Seat 6 41B Kunesh-Podein, Mary (DFL)... 445 ..........4331 ......... 97 Seat 1 Seat 11 Mary Franson Luverne—22A Alexandria—8B Joe Schomacker 5B Layman, Sandy (R) ..............233 ....... 4936 ....... 38 Shane Mekeland House Officers Clear Lake—15B Maplewood—53A Rosemount—57B St. Peter—19A Jeff Brand 59A Lee, Fue (DFL) ....................485 ....... 4262 ..... 125 Seat 128 John Huot Tou Xiong Tou Seat 134 Patrick D. Murphy .......... 142 Marilee Davis .................. 141 Seat 123 Seat 139 Chief Clerk Desk Clerk Melissa Hortman 66B Lesch, John (DFL) ...............563 ....... 4224 ..... 116 Timothy M. Johnson ....... 143 David G. Surdez ............. 140 Brooklyn Park—36B Seat 7 Seat 2 26A Liebling, Tina (DFL) ...........477 ....... 0573 ..... 114 Speaker of the House Seat 12 Peggy Scott Ron Kresha 1st Asst. Chief Clerk Legislative Clerk John Poston Andover—35B Little Falls—9B Brooklyn Center—40B Lake Shore—9A International Falls—3A 4A Lien, Ben (DFL) ..................415 ....... 5515 ....... 72 Gail C. Romanowski ....... 144 Bob Meyerson ................... 69 South St. Paul—52A Samantha Vang Seat 127 2nd Asst.
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March 17Th, 2020 the Honorable Melissa Hortman Speaker of The
March 17th, 2020 The Honorable Melissa Hortman Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives The Honorable Kurt Daudt, Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives The Honorable Paul Gazelka Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate The Honorable Susan Kent Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate CC: Governor Tim Walz, Commissioner Jodi Harpstead Dear legislative leaders, The current pandemic crisis facing Minnesota shows us that we are all vulnerable to threats to our health and safety. No matter where we come from or what we look like, all Minnesotans want to feel safe, get the care we need, and be able to thrive. Yet our state and nation are facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens the health and safety of us all. Minnesotans who rely on basic and essential supports, like child care, health care, mental health care, and other support services administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) are especially vulnerable during this crisis. On March 16, the Legislature passed COVID-19 emergency funding, shoring up our health care systems and institutions, but failed to pass legislation that would allow the state to take the emergency measures needed to keep all Minnesotans safe. As a broad-based group of advocacy organizations and providers from across Minnesota we urge policymakers to reconvene Wednesday, March 18 to take action that will better ensure our friends, family members, and neighbors who depend on safety net supports can weather this crisis. A wide range of basic critical policy areas administered by DHS are impacted: child care, mental health services, services for persons with disabilities and older adults, health care (Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare), economic assistance, housing support, children’s services, supports for vulnerable populations, and the direct care and treatment system.
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