Good morning, and happy Tuesday. Here’s the DIgest.
1. House GOP makes crime an issue in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt lives in rural Isanti County, but he says his constituents and other Minnesotans travel to Minneapolis and St. Paul frequently for jobs, family gatherings, sporting events and concerts. And Daudt said they worry about their safety. “What we want people to know is that this is a priority. We want to make sure that people in Minnesota know that this Legislature, and particularly Republicans in the Legislature, are committed to keeping people safe,” Daudt said. The House Republican plan includes higher penalties for gang members who use guns in crimes, a boost in funding for gang and drug efforts at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and a crackdown on light rail fare evasion. But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who listened as Republicans held a news conference on their plan, said Daudt and others are trying to spread misinformation. Frey noted that the latest city budget included $2.7 million to add a third class of police recruits. “To the extent that there are concerns about the way that Minneapolis does business, those lawmakers should actually give Minneapolis a call. Public safety should not be a partisan issue. The problem is that the Republicans in the Legislature are consistently making it one.” MPR News
2. Bipartisan push to stop robocalls. Robocall relief is on the agenda at the Minnesota Capitol this year. Bills to target those unwanted phone calls have been filed in the House and Senate by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, tackling a growing nuisance that in some cases leads to consumer fraud. First-term DFL Rep. Zack Stephenson said when he discussed his attempting to stymie ill-intentioned robocalls calls at two recent town halls, it was a clear hit. “I would certainly hope that if there’s anything that can unite us here at the Capitol, it’s a hatred of robocalls,” said Stephenson, of Coon Rapids. First-term GOP Sen. Rich Draheim hears it from frustrated constituents, too. “You’re almost afraid to answer the phone anymore. And I think anything we can do to help reverse that is a positive step,” Draheim, of Madison Lake, said. “I think it’s a bipartisan issue. I’m happy to work with anyone who has similar views.” Both lawmakers have introduced bills to lash back at the illicit callers, either through increased penalties or by forcing carriers to cut the calls off before they reach your phone. MPR News
3. Democrats propose state plan to counter climate change. The Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus is proposing a package of bills to invest in electric buses and cars, solar production, energy efficiency improvements to buildings and more. The 15-bill package totals $191.5 million to come from the state’s budget surplus. State Rep. Todd Lippert, DFL-Northfield, at a Monday news conference said the package aims to alleviate the effects of climate change and pollution already being felt in the metro and Greater Minnesota, as well as prevent further repercussions down the line. “We all depend on a healthy and stable climate and we need to respond to climate change this session,” Lippert said. “Waiting to act threatens our future.” The largest portion of the package, $85.5 million, is devoted to energy efficiency improvements to homes, public schools, nursing homes and commercial buildings. The second-largest chunk would go toward transportation — Minnesota’s largest air pollutant, according to Pollution Control Agency data — with funding for electric school and public transit buses, as well as electric vehicle rebates. Forum News Service
4. Another fight shapes up over election security money. Minnesota lawmakers are gearing up for a second round in the debate over using federal election security dollars, even as a major election year looms and state and local officials prepare for possible interference from hackers, foreign entities, and purveyors of political disinformation. The state is able to tap nearly $7.4 million as part of a new batch of federal funding to secure state election systems through the Help America Vote Act. Republicans in the Senate, however, want to link the money to the adoption of a new provisional balloting system, which Democrats oppose. Under a new GOP bill, election officials could provide provisional ballots to voters who cannot verify their eligibility. That differs from current law, where voters are given regular ballots which can be counted unless otherwise successfully challenged. Republican Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, who authored the bill, said 47 other states have some form of provisional balloting and she believes it should be part of the broader conversation about election security. Democrats in control of the House are pushing back, arguing Republicans are trying to use much-needed election security funding as a bargaining chip. Star Tribune
5. Committee wants Legislature to have say over sentencing commission members. The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Monday on a 6-3 vote advanced a proposal to require members of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to be confirmed by the state Senate. Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, brought the proposal and said that after the commission earlier this year voted to cap probation sentences for most felony offenses at five years, he felt the need to implement another check on the board's power. Members of the panel are appointed by the governor or the Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice. And under Limmer's bill, the members would also have to be approved by the Senate to serve on the panel. "Now that (the commission is) moving more and more on a regular basis it appears, that they're making policy that should be made in this body, in the Legislature, we should at least have confirmation of the members on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and let senators approve who is on that commission," Limmer said. Opponents in the committee raised concerns about the confirmation process potentially politicizing the commission, but ultimately the bill cleared the committee. "That bill is never going to happen," Gov. Tim Walz told reporters on Friday. Duluth News Tribune | 