Good morning. For those of you working at the Capitol, you might hear the incessant pounding ringing through the halls as construction on the State Office Building proceeds. We’ve dubbed it the SOB’s “beating heart.”
Another Friday, another show. On Politics Friday , Brian will talk to Democratic Rep. Angie Craig about her focus in Congress and the likelihood of another competitive race this fall. He’ll also chat with state Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, about the debate over the type and size of funding that could be provided for rural EMS services. Tune in for a sound-rich story from Ellie, who spent a day with some emergency medical technicians. The voices from the Capitol offers a flavor of the week, too.
As mentioned above, Ellie traveled to Dodge Center to learn about what ambulance providers say is a rural EMS crisis. As she writes, there are several bills at the Capitol that could provide up to $100 million. A proposed budget from Gov. Tim Walz and other DFL leaders would only allocate $16 million for rural EMS services. Lawmakers from both parties are pushing the state to spend more.
Legislative leaders say they're working behind the scenes with stakeholders on a statewide proposal to boost rideshare drivers’ wages. They are trying to head off disruptions to Uber and Lyft in the state. "I think we're making really good progress," House Majority Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, told reporters yesterday. "We've been working with Uber and Lyft through the bill language, been working with the City of Minneapolis as well and trying to find a path forward to agreement. So I'm confident we can get there by the end of session." Dana reports that Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, echoed that sentiment. The pair, along with lobbyists for the rideshare companies, said sticking points remain around provisions in the bill that allow drivers to sue the companies over injuries or dismissal from the app.
A bill with historic bipartisan support that would change single-family zoning laws across the state is off the table this session. What was dubbed as the “Missing Middle” homes bill would have allowed for the construction of duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in areas zoned for single-family homes. Supporters of the bill had said it would have created much-needed housing. MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan wrote that it was the “kind of political coalition that should have meant the bill would have had an easy time in the Minnesota Legislature.” But opposition from cities in the Twin Cities region was successful in causing suburban lawmakers from both parties to vote against the sweeping changes. A bill that would provide multi-family apartment buildings in commercial zones is still live.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman addressed the proposal’s apparent stall-out, deeming it “an intriguing policy proposal whose time has not yet come in Minnesota.” Dana reports that the speaker said some pieces of the bill could still make it through this year, but she said lawmakers took big steps last year to boost housing. That includes $1 billion in the state’s two-year budget and a metro area sales tax that earmarks funding for housing could help fill the gap.
No-No? No Labels won’t run a third-party campaign after spending millions looking for a candidate. Strategists for the bipartisan organization said they were unable to attract a candidate willing to seize on the widespread dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden and presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump. The group raised millions from a donor list they have kept secret.
A proposal to boost the penalties for those who straw purchase firearms is on the cusp of a House vote. Dana reports that the House Public Safety Committee advanced the bill that would increase the penalty for those involved in a straw purchase. Under current law, it's a gross misdemeanor to transfer a firearm to someone who can't legally have one. The bill would make it a felony, with a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both. The bill would also require additional reporting to the Legislature about firearms seized and gun trafficking investigations underway. It would also ban more trigger activating devices that enable a gun to fire multiple bullets with one trigger pull. Republicans on the panel raised concerns about that provision and urged DFLers to drop it.
Another proposal – one to put changes to Minnesota’s voting map drawing and legislative deadlines before voters – was also a talker yesterday. Dana reports that the House State and Local Government Committee endorsed the bill that would add a ballot measure assigning the task of drawing political boundaries to a new panel rather than legislators or the courts. House Majority Leader Jamie Long said it would ensure fairer voting maps. "Fairness and public participation are Minnesota values,” Long said. “That's why we should take the important step of amending our constitution to say that no matter who is in charge, our map should be fair." Voters would also be asked to drop the constitutional end date for the Legislature and impose additional limits on lawmakers who become lobbyists. Republican Rep. Jim Nash said it would lead to a full-time Legislature and – along with a creative metaphor to a mouse that gets a cookie – noted that the plan has drawn blowback from constituents and GOP lawmakers. "I think that elongating the legislative session is really scary." The bill moves next to the House Rules Committee. | 