Good morning, and happy Monday.
Expect a bit of a frenzy this week at the state Capitol and in the Minnesota political world, MPR’s Brian Bakst reports.Tuesday will probably bring new congressional and legislative district maps that will set the political playing field for the next decade. “For elected officials redistricting and Election Day are these very high-drama events, because they're events – some of which are outside your control – that have a lot of influence over your future personal and professional life,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park. “So we're all very anxious to see what those lines will look like.” Kurt Zellers was the Republican House speaker in 2012 when the current boundaries were released. “There's still nothing that can prepare you for ‘Oh my God, one of my colleagues who I sit on the floor with, who I vote with, who I vote for their bills, who I signed on to their bills’ is now paired in the same district as I am, and which one of us is going to either have to move or retire, or are we going to go to a convention or primary and fight it out?” Zellers remembers. “And that's the reality, what happens on that fateful day when they do come out.”
And if you missed it, here’s David Montgomery’s redistricting explainer that includes a tool to discover what district you might end up in.
After the Minnesota Legislature passed a ban on “forever chemicals” in food packaging last year, MPR’s Kirsti Marohn reports a DFL lawmaker wants to extend the ban on PFAS to more consumer products — cosmetics, cookware and ski wax. The bills, authored by Rep. Ami Wazlawik of White Bear Township, Minn., cleared their first hurdle in the state House last week. The large class of chemicals — PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are known for their durability. They've been found in the environment, wildlife and humans around the globe. Studies have linked some PFAS to human health issues, including kidney and thyroid problems and some cancers.
House Democrats want to put more money toward housing and will propose a $300 million cash infusion to help people struggling to pay rent. Jessie Van Berkel of the Star Tribune reports: Rep. Mike Howard, DFL-Richfield, estimated that would sustain people until June when the state is scheduled to lift the last remaining pandemic renter protection, which prevents a renter with a pending application for help from being evicted for failing to pay. In addition to their plans for the one-time cash influx, some House DFL members are making their third attempt to pass a bill that would provide ongoing assistance to low-income Minnesotans who spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. The bill is estimated to cost nearly $1.1 billion annually, though Howard said it could start at a lower level and ramp up over time. Republican Senate Housing Committee Chairman Rich Draheim expressed disinterest in another influx of emergency rental assistance, noting there are other programs that help people struggling with rent bills. "If they are underfunded or overfunded, let's look at it," said Draheim of existing programs. But with hundreds of millions having gone toward rent help, he said, "I don't think we need to spend more on it. People need to get back to normal. There are jobs out there everywhere."
Some Republican state senators, including two candidates for governor, plan to lay out a plan today for what they call a parents’ bill of rights. Sens. Roger Chamberlain, Michelle Benson, Justin Eichorn, and Paul Gazelka are expected to say the plan is designed to put “parents in the drivers’ seat for their kids’ education needs.” It turns out they’re not the only Republicans pitching it. The Associated Press reports: Republican state lawmakers across the U.S. are trying to require schools to post all course materials online so parents can review them, part of a broader national push by the GOP for a sweeping parents bill of rights ahead of the midterm congressional elections. At least one proposal would give parents with no expertise power over curriculum choices. Parents also could file complaints about certain lessons and in some cases sue school districts.
Sahan Journal reportsDon Samuels is considering running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member who was active last year in opposing a charter change to create a new public safety structure in the city, confirmed that he registered a website last week under the domain name donsamuelsforcongress.com. “I’m considering several options,” Samuels told Sahan Journal. “I just want to make sure I have things in place just in case I decide to do it.” Samuels, 72, added that he has been “meeting with people” to discuss a possible run, and described the conversations as “casual.” He has not decided whether he would run as a DFLer or under a different party affiliation. | 