Capitol View for March 9

Good morning, and welcome to Wednesday.

A report on the rioting following the killing of George Floyd found that Mayor Jacob Frey did not implement the city’s emergency protocols and there was no clear command structure for police and firefighters.MPR’s Matt Sepic reports that neglect led to poor communication with officers and firefighters on the streets and inconsistent decision making, the report concluded. As arsonists set fires around Minneapolis in the days after the police murder of George Floyd, firefighters became increasingly concerned that crowds would attack them. Supervisors trying to pull the crews off the street had to resort to a phone tree because they couldn’t get into a password-protected communication system, according to one of the review’s findings. Officers on the street reported that they received little guidance about what to do, and intelligence briefings weren’t circulated in the field. The review also said city leaders were unfamiliar with the process for requesting help from the Minnesota National Guard. Mayor Jacob Frey made a verbal request to Gov. Tim Walz about 48 hours after Floyd’s killing, then followed up with a written request. But the guard didn’t have the details required by policy.

The Minneapolis teachers’ strike enters its second day today. Teachers and support staff say they want more pay, lower class sizes and more mental health supports in schools, among other demands. "They keep looking at what we have on the table as something in addition to what they're currently doing. And we want to be very clear that what they're currently doing isn't working," Greta Callahan, a Minneapolis Federation of Teachers leader, said Tuesday. District leaders say they can’t afford to meet the teachers’ demands. Superintendent Ed Graff estimated the union’s total request would require about $160 million more each year on top of the district’s current budget. “We have all these priorities that we want to have happen and we don’t have the resources for it, and someone’s got to be able to say, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t do it,’” he told reporters late Tuesday afternoon. “If we can’t fix this, it’s not just going to be bad for our Minneapolis public schools. It’s going to be bad for public education and most importantly it’s going to be bad for our kids.”

Gov. Tim Walz met with legislative leaders Tuesday to talk about the upcoming deadline to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance fund. The Senate has passed a $2.7 billion bill to refill the fund and pay back money owed to the federal government. The administration says Minnesota businesses face a tax increase on March 15 if the issue isn’t addressed. House Democrats have been waiting for progress on bonuses for frontline pandemic workers. The closed-door meeting didn’t result in any progress. Walz said afterward he would still like to see an unemployment insurance bill passed by Monday, and that he would also like to see action on frontline worker bonuses. They’re expected to meet again later in the week.

And MPR’s Brian Bakst reportsWalz says he’s open to a temporary suspension of Minnesota's tax on gas as long as a road fund doesn’t suffer. Walz joined other governors Tuesday in calling for a federal gas tax holiday as well. Combined, the two charges add about 46 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas. In the past, Walz has advocated for a higher gas tax to increase money dedicated to road construction. He says any suspension now would have to account for potential losses to that account. “For each month you suspend the gas tax in Minnesota, it’s about $77 million,” Walz said. “And so I am open to that. I know there is a proposal in the House. I think you target that, especially in the months where it is hurting folks the worst, maybe target it for the summer.” Republicans have panned the Democratic proposal as an-election year gimmick. They want permanent income tax cuts to reduce financial pressure on families.

The Legislature should define what is meant by the achievement gap and spell out the Minnesota Department of Education’s role in closing it, according to a report released Tuesday by the Office of the Legislative Auditor.The Pioneer Press reports the department has not annually monitored districts’ progress as it’s expected to do under state law, and it doesn’t assist with improvement plans when districts fall short, the government watchdog found. “We identified concerns related to MDE’s oversight of school districts’ and charter schools’ progress, and we think that the state could improve the support it provides to school districts and charter schools as they work to address their achievement gaps,” Legislative Auditor Judy Randall wrote. The report says state law does not clearly define “achievement gap” but that Minnesota’s disparities in educational outcomes among different student groups are recognized to be among the largest in the nation.

Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels launched a campaign for Congress in Minnesota's 5th District. That will pit him against fellow Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar in the DFL primary. Samuels has been a longtime public safety advocate and has voiced his support for the Minneapolis Police Department, which Omar has said should be defunded. Samuels was also active in the successful campaign to defeat a proposed public safety charter amendment in the city last year. “The stakes have never been higher,” Samuels said in a statement announcing his campaign. “Our city, our nation, and our world are threatened by devastating economic disparities, the catastrophic effects of climate change, and a sustained attack on democracy here at home and abroad. While Rep. Omar and I share similar views on many issues, I believe this moment calls for a different approach to leadership–one that seeks to build a united coalition able to achieve greater progress for everyone.” Samuels said Omar made a mistake by voting against President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. Former Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo endorsed Samuels’ campaign. “While Rep. Omar described ‘defund the police’ as a ‘policy demand,’ I share the view of Democrats like former President Barack Obama who believe the slogan created unnecessary alienation at a time when progress on police accountability was most needed,” Samuels said. Omar easily fought off a primary challenge from a well-funded candidate in her 2020 reelection campaign.