Good morning, and welcome to day three of the new year.
The Legislature starts its new session at noon today with the DFL holding the coveted trifecta, although by a razor-thin one vote margin in the Senate. MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that moments after he was sworn in to a second term Monday, Gov. Tim Walz laid out an ambitious list of what he wants to achieve: “Minnesotans spoke clearly this last election, and they expect all of us to do just that: get things done,” Walz said. “The era of gridlock in St. Paul is over. Minnesotans have chosen. They chose hope over fear. They chose fact over fiction, and they chose action over excuses. Our path is clear. It’s time to lead.” Walz previewed some of the initiatives he’ll put out formally in the weeks ahead. They include: Bolstering public education with big investments, including a state buydown of special education costs that are saddling school districts with budget problems. Providing universal school meals in an effort to reduce stigma in child nutrition. Setting a goal of making Minnesota electricity carbon emission-free by 2040. Implementing a state-administered program for paid family and medical leave rather than leave it to individual employers to decide on the offering. Approving new gun regulations, barring conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth and fortifying voting rights, including automatic registration. MPR’s Dana Ferguson reported that the new DFL majorities believe part of the reason they won in November was their stand against election denialism, and that incoming committee chairs have an agenda. Secretary of State Steve Simon laid out his agenda Monday after he was sworn in for a third term. In 2022, democracy was on the ballot, and Minnesotans spoke clearly, Simon said. “Going forward, that means strengthening our democracy by protecting and expanding the freedom to vote by enacting reforms that will move us forward and make us even better,” Simon said. “Reforms that are nonpartisan in origin and in effect, things like automatic voter registration, things like pre-registration for high school students, and things like restoring the right to vote to those who have left prison behind.”
And after he was sworn in to begin a second term, Attorney General Keith Ellison laid out his agenda. “In these four years, I will keep on working to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity, safety and respect. And that means a few things. Specifically, fighting inflation, by stopping price gouging and anti competitive behavior, and unconscionable drug prices and wage theft,” Ellison said. “Continuing to fight for fair competition in our economy, including by investigating every merger and acquisition, including the Fairview-Sanford merger, from the perspective of what's right for Minnesota. From continuing the fight against the Fentanyl crisis, and holding those accountable, who would unconscionably, negligently poison our communities, and by continuing to fight for our democracy, our right to choose and our most cherished freedoms.” Ellison said he would also uphold Minnesotans’ right “not to be shot.”
One item on the fast track at the Capitol is putting the right to an abortion into state law. “We are very concerned about protecting reproductive freedom in Minnesota law as soon as possible,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman Monday. She added some other items to a list of things that might get done quickly. “We are very interested in getting tax conformity done on an expedited timeline, [And] unemployment insurance compensation for those on the Iron Range who are suffering at this point in time." A House committee has already scheduled to hold a hearing on a bill Thursday that would guarantee access to abortion under Minnesota law. The state supreme court has ruled that the Minnesota constitution includes the right to abortion.
Hortman is the only caucus leader at the Capitol this year who is returning to her position. Last week, Brian and Dana profiled the new leaders. From Brian’s story: “In my experience in the public and the private sector, I think that a lot of times women do have a different leadership style,” incoming DFL Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic said. “And so I do think it changes the culture. And if it changes the culture to be more inclusive and letting individuals shine and bringing people together, then I think that's a good thing.” Dziedzic, 60, has spent a decade in the Legislature. She hasn’t been one to seek out the spotlight. She represents a Minneapolis district and has focused more of her time on the nitty gritty of policy than on attracting headlines. She hasn’t chaired a committee, a route other leaders have taken to the top. It made Dziedzic something of a surprise selection when she emerged as leader of the caucus that will have a 34-33 majority — the party’s first time in charge since 2016. “I was honored that they selected me. And you know, it is daunting, it's a large responsibility. It's a big responsibility,” she said. “And I pledge to them that I'm going to put my head down, get the work done, work with all of them. And we're going to get things done for the state of Minnesota.”
And from Dana’s piece about the new GOP leaders: Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, a former Rocori school board member and property manager, bested former Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman, and Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, took over after outgoing Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, decided not to run again. Johnson runs a family construction business and co-owns a law firm. With slim margins between Democrats and Republicans in each chamber, Johnson and Demuth could play a role in shaping budget decisions, as well as picking off DFL support for potentially controversial legislation. “There are a number of those types of issues where overreach could actually end up really hammering on our communities, our families,” Johnson, the former deputy majority leader, said. “So we're going to make sure that we hold Democrats accountable going forward.” Both Demuth and Johnson have navigated bipartisan deals at the Capitol and said that going into 2023, they feel confident about their ability to work across the political aisle and to hold their members together. “My approach is maybe a little softer, if I had to describe it that way,” Demuth said, comparing her style to Daudt’s. “But yet I am not afraid to get in and tackle hard issues and be the voice when that needs to happen. I do think that I'm a little bit more collaborative and I look forward to making sure that all 64 of our voices are going to be heard.”
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