The Redistricting process was the subject at the Capitol this week as a map of new legislative districts was issued on Tuesday—a special panel of five state judges released its redistricting plan for Minnesota. Our Constitution requires redistricting to happen once per decade to accommodate for changes in our state’s population and keep the number of constituents relatively even across Minnesota.
The 2020 census indicates Minnesota’s population is 5.7 million. That translates to a baseline constituency of (85,000) for our state’s 67 Senate districts and half that (42,500) for our 134 House districts.
Because shifts in population around the state are not uniform—some districts needed to shrink, and other boundaries needed to be expanded to add residents. Senate District 10 boundaries are going to look different—Aitkin and Crow Wing County have been split. Senate District 6 will include Crow Wing County, and portions of Cass and Itasca Counties. These new districts will not take effect until January 2023—and in the meantime, I will continue working on behalf of all my constituents, as well as the entire state of Minnesota. If you have specific questions, please reach out to my office.
Redistricting Information: New Legislative Maps
Minnesota Tourism Legislation
This week, the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee passed my Tourism bill SF2769. The legislation moves forward a $6 million dollar plan to support tourism businesses affected by the pandemic. The legislation has bipartisan support for sending grants out to hospitality and tourism businesses—the proposal would spend state general funds to set up a grant fund through Explore Minnesota. Tourism businesses hit by the pandemic and the state’s efforts to curb it would then be able to use the money to help them attract conventions, meetings, events, and marketing efforts. There is strong support among lawmakers for reinvigorating Minnesota’s tourism industry…it’s an important economic resource. The bill’s next step is the Senate Environment Finance Committee.
Senate Passed Unemployment Insurance Fix
This week the Minnesota Senate passed legislation SF2677 authorizing $2.73 billion to immediately pay off the state’s $1.2 billion in Unemployment Insurance (UI) debt and refill the fund to protect employees’ benefits.
We made a promise to our small businesses when the pandemic began that if they worked with us and helped struggling workers, we would help solve the UI problem. Now is the time to act and protect our small businesses from a massive tax increase.
On January 1, 2020 the UI Trust Fund balance was $1.7 billion. Unemployment Insurance claims during the pandemic drained the fund to a negative balance of $1.2 billion in debt to the federal government.
Until Minnesota’s UI trust fund reaches a level of funding considered adequate by the federal government, Minnesota businesses will also be penalized through higher federal taxes to increase the available funding. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), it would take nearly 10 years of additional higher taxes on businesses to replenish the UI trust funds to stop additional taxes and end the federal government tax penalty. The bill now awaits action by the House of Representatives.
Local News: This week I had the privilege of meeting with Pequot Lakes High School students and Superintendent Kurt Stumpf regarding purchasing motor coach buses for school districts—and changing Minnesota Statutes to allow the purchase of motor coach for transportation purposes. I was truly impressed with the students questions, energy, and enthusiasm!
Have a great start to your weekend!
Thank you for taking the time to read my weekly legislative update. If you’re looking to hear more from the Capitol, please like me on Facebook. Have a great start to your weekend!
As always please feel free to contact my office with any questions you might have. My office can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4913 or at sen.carrie.ruud@senate.mn.
Talk to you soon!
Carrie Ruud