Friends and neighbors,

This past week, the Senate and House started meeting in Conference Committees. A conference committee’s work is to prepare a version of the bill that is acceptable to both houses (Senate & House of Representatives) and is made up of members from each house who are appointed to reconcile the differences between two versions of a bill that has been passed by both bodies. Each conference committee has either three or five members from both the House and the Senate.

• Conference committees, one of the most significant parts of the bicameral system, are placed at the juncture of two separate legislative bodies. They represent the necessary and formal continuation of discussions that seek to resolve conflicts between the two chambers on the same bill
• These special committees are particularly important because they often deal with the most significant and controversial bills considered by the legislature each session. Their importance also is enhanced because they most often are required during the busiest time of the year—near the end of the session—when time constraints work against lengthy deliberation of the conference committee’s report. 

I am serving on the Health & Human Services / Human Services Reform Conference Committee as well as the Commerce / Energy Conference Committee.

LEGISLATIVE RECAP

MN VOTER ID – On Monday, the Minnesota Senate approved a broadly popular bill SF 173 that would require Minnesotans to present a valid photo identification for in-person, absentee, and mail-in voting. The bill also establishes a new voter identification card that would be available free of charge to individuals who lack proper identification and cannot afford it. The bill would make Minnesota the 37th state to require some form of identification to vote.

• Voter ID is widely popular throughout the United States. A recent Rasmussen survey found the issue garners 75% support. In Minnesota, the nonpartisan think tank Center of the American Experiment recently found voter ID enjoys 69% support
• The bill guarantees that not a single legal voter would be disenfranchised by the new requirement. Individuals unable to provide valid proof of identity or residence would be able to cast a provisional ballot, allowing a period of time to prove their identity. If a voter exhausts all options and is still unable to provide documentation, that voter would be allowed to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury affirming they are a legal voter and would then have their ballot counted. Same-day voter registration would also remain intact
• In the 2008 landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Crawford v. Marion County, the Court held that an Indiana law requiring a photo ID to vote did not violate the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, the Court held there are “legitimate state interests” in voting laws requiring photo ID, including deterring, detecting, and preventing voter fraud, improving and modernizing election procedures, and safeguarding voter confidence in elections. Finally, the Court also held that federal law authorizes states to use a photo identification requirement to determine an individual’s eligibility to vote.

Folks have started questioning the security of our election systems, and this is a common-sense solution that absolutely ensures the security of our election process, Voting is an important right, and we need to make sure that every Minnesotan who is eligible to vote is confident in our system. This is the only way we can truly guarantee the integrity of our process.

LOOSENING OF COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS – On Thursday, Governor Walz announced a timetable for ending COVID restrictions including the statewide mask mandate and operation limits on businesses, schools and youth sports.

• COVID-19 restrictions on business capacities and gathering sizes will end May 28 
• A mask-wearing mandate for public indoor spaces will end no later than July 1 in Minnesota 

Senate Republicans have already passed legislation to safely open businesses and venues with a COVID plan in place. We do not need to wait until Memorial Day. While this is a step in the right direction, it is just not enough. Governor Walz’s reopening plan is too weak and too slow.

Minnesotans are ready to reopen right now:

• Minnesotans are vaccinated in large numbers
• Businesses know how to operate safely
• People know how to keep themselves and each other healthy

Instead, the governor is asking people to continue to sacrifice when it is completely unwarranted. While all capacity and distancing limits for indoor events and gatherings will end on May 28, it will still be especially hard on kids! My heart breaks for the schools and the students who will once again have to miss their spring events, like senior proms. Gov. Walz must do better than this.

FUN FACTS

May 3 – In 1937, Margaret Mitchell wins Pulitzer Prize for “Gone With the Wind”

May 4 – National Teacher’s Day. In fact, the entire week is National Teachers’ Week/Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5 – On this day in 1971, Alan Shepard rides “Freedom 7” to become 1st American in space

May 6 – English athlete Roger Bannister becomes first to run a sub-4-minute mile, recording 3:59:4 at Iffley Road Track, Oxford in 1954

May 7 – National Day of Prayer

May 8 – In 1980, the World Health Organization announces smallpox has been eradicated

May 9 – Happy Mother’s Day (first declared by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914)


FRIENDLY REMINDER – Minnesota’s fishing opener is on Saturday, May 15 


That’s all for this week’s update. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share any thoughts, concerns, or questions you may have. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-9651 or by email at sen.paul.utke@senate.mn


Have a great week!
Paul Utke