Good morning, and happy Friday.
The bill that allows people to get driver's licenses and IDs regardless of their immigration status will have to make one more stop on its way to the governor's desk. Because of some small differences in the version the Senate passed this week, the bill has to go back to the House for a final vote next week. The DFL-led House is expected to then advance the bill to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.
Speaking of that bill, there were some tense moments as the Senate was talking about it early Wednesday morning. It happened hours into the debate over the DFL-backed bill. Republicans, noting that the system was changed to ban those without legal documentation from getting driver’s licenses following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, offered a series of amendments to try to delay implementation of the new license system. They cited concerns over national security, problems with the immigration system, and the possibility that terrorists could use Minnesota driver’s licenses to board domestic flights. As the debate was nearing an end, Sen. Omar Fateh, DFL-Minneapolis, tried to summarize objections from the other side of the aisle, and defend the bill by saying most immigrants just want to work and care for their families. "We heard them being called terrorists. We heard them being called drug dealers. We heard a lot of insults. We heard that they're a threat to our national security. And that's a flat out lie," Fateh said. Then he turned his remarks on the Republicans in the Senate chamber. "You want to know who the real threat is? I'll give you a hint. They don't look like our chief author. They don't look like the folks up in the gallery. They don't look like the folks in the rotunda. They look like many of the members that sit in the front," Fateh said. "And you don't have to take my word for it. According to the DHS [Department of Homeland Security], the greatest domestic threat facing the United States comes from ‘racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, specifically those who advocate for the supremacy of the white race,’ not our immigrants." Some Republicans took exception to the remarks. "I feel like I was just called a racist white man. That's not appropriate," said Sen. Nathan Wesenberg, R-Little Falls. "I don't think we should be saying those things on the Senate chamber floor. I find that very disrespectful." A few minutes later Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, responded. "Quite frankly, I've heard some things tonight that I am shocked is being said in this state Capitol, in this state Senate," Johnson said and then made this comment that has been criticized for using a disrespectful term: "We're not calling groups any names. What we're saying is we need to protect Minnesotans, doesn't matter what your race, your color, your creed — Norwegian, Polack, Somalian, you name it." Johnson noted that none of the amendments Republicans proposed to the bill were accepted, which has happened often this year as both the House and the Senate debate controversial bills. "Tonight we were called white national racists — as a whole party," Johnson said. "Look, we represent 49 and a half percent of this state. You're calling 49 and a half percent of this state racist because they want to protect Minnesotans, because they have concerns about a bill? Is that what we do now in the state Senate? Folks, I am incredibly disappointed."
The Rocori school district has agreed to pay $140,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a Cold Spring woman, who said her children experienced racist bullying and harassment at school. MPR’s Kirsti Marohn reports Andrea Robinson filed the lawsuit last year on behalf of two of her two children, who are Black. It accused the district of civil rights violations for failing to respond to repeated reports of harassment, including racial slurs and threats in classrooms, hallways, on buses and online. Robinson said her children are still dealing with the impact. "It's hard because I can't fix them, and no amount of money can change the impact,” she said. “There's nothing that will ever, ever change what my kids went through. And I truly hope no other kids have to go through it." In a statement, Tim Sullivan, an attorney for the Rocori school district, said the case was settled by the district’s insurer. He said the school district has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and the terms of the agreement reflect that the district does not admit any liability. “The school district looks forward to moving beyond this matter and continuing to provide an excellent education to all of its learners,” Sullivan stated.
Democrats at the Capitol want to spend more on child care. A lot more. Walker Orenstein at MinnPost reports: Democrats who control Minnesota’s government have proposed a massive expansion of spending on child care from the state’s historic budget surplus in a push to revitalize the industry and cut costs for families. It’s complicated to tally an exact figure aimed at children who are too young for school, but Gov. Tim Walz’s $65.2 billion two-year budget plan would lead to several billion in new state spending with direct ties to child care over the next four years. That money would increase subsidy rates for low-income families to meet federal recommendations, which is something DFLers have wanted for years but stalled while Republicans controlled the state Senate. Walz would also significantly expand a tax credit that would help parents cover tuition. And the governor wants to offer permanent monthly payments for child care providers meant to give child care workers pay raises statewide and keep businesses afloat. Regular grants for the sector began during the pandemic, but the idea of turning money meant to stabilize the industry amid COVID-19 into a long-term infusion of cash would be a first in Minnesota. Republicans have been wary about much of the spending, arguing the family subsidy program was recently troubled by sweeping fraud allegations. Some say burdensome government regulations are more to blame for the continuing decline in smaller family child care providers in mostly rural areas across the state.
Despite a boost in state funding, people on Medicaid, or Medical Assistance (MA) as it’s known in Minnesota, are still having a hard time finding dental care. MPR’s Catharine Richert reports: People on MA are more likely to be behind on their dental care, but they have the hardest time seeing a dentist — care that's tied to preventing other long-term health problems including cardiovascular issues. In 2021, state legislators tried to fix the problem by nearly doubling the amount of money MA pays dentists for each appointment. They set goals for the number of visits MA enrollees should have annually. Department of Human Services Deputy Assistant Commissioner Julie Marquardt said those changes came out of years of conversation with the state’s dental community. “We wanted to work with [dentists] to really promote, ‘How can we ensure all Minnesotans can get dental care when we're seeing these disparities with low income folks in their communities,’” she said. But based on data from the state and from health insurance companies that manage most MA enrollees, the changes haven’t made much of a difference. “We see that really as a start, not an ending point,” said Marquardt. “We know there's more work to do.”
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