Daily Digest for December 29, 2020 Posted at 7 a.m. by Sara Porter |
Good morning. Lawmakers have been working remotely for months due to the pandemic, but the increased workload of a budget session presents new challenges that still need to be worked out, including how members of the public can interact with lawmakers. Tim Pugmire reports:
"House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said the priority for 2021 is to keep people safe.
'We have the privileged position of being able to do our work through technology, and we will use that technology to do our jobs,' Hortman said, meaning the House will conduct all committee meetings remotely via Zoom.
During floor sessions, a handful of people will work in the House chamber. But most lawmakers will participate from their office or home, using new remote voting technology aimed at speeding up the process. Hortman stressed that the public will still be able to testify in committee hearings. She added that it will actually be an easier option for many Minnesotans."
As state COVID-19 relief goes out, some businesses will miss out because of how they fared when regulations were loosened earlier this year. Brian Bakst reports:
"The Minnesota Department of Revenue expects between 4,800 and 5,600 businesses to qualify for checks that will range from $10,000 to $45,000 depending on how many people they employ.
The payments will only go to Minnesota-owned establishments — taverns, caterers, gyms and bowling alleys among them — that saw a 30 percent drop in taxable sales between April through September compared to the same period last year.
It has restaurants like Smith Coffee and Cafe in Eden Prairie right on the cusp.
'The aid would make a really big difference. We are hovering right at that 30 percent threshold,” said owner Ann Schuster. “But we’re down more than that during this period where we’re shut.'"
Now, a look at where things stand on relief at the federal level: The fate of President Trump's $2,000 checks for individuals now rests with GOP-led Senate.
The outcome is uncertain after bipartisan approval by the House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared, “Republicans have a choice: Vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people the bigger paychecks they need."
Stay tuned, we'll have the latest on MPR News. |
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