News – Page 181 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

February 9, 2021

Senator Jim Abeler pushes for increased Traumatic Brain Injury funding after Governor cut program from budget

Today, Senator Jim Abeler (Anoka) held a press conference to introduce a budget increase for the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant (SCI and TBI) Program. This legislation seeks to increase the budget…

February 9, 2021

Senator Miller supports innovative program to improve student reading outcomes

VIDEO: Watch Senator Miller discuss the LETRS program. (St. Paul) – A bill was recently introduced to again affirm the Minnesota Senate’s commitment to student literacy by providing teachers the opportunity to enroll in an…

February 9, 2021

Senator Osmek’s bill requiring legislative oversight for future peacetime emergencies clears committees

On Tuesday, the Senate’s State Government Finance & Policy Committee heard legislation that would reassert a fair balance of governing power between the legislative branch and the executive branch during future states of emergency. The…

February 8, 2021

Senate Republicans: $1.6 billion dollar surplus from “resilient Minnesotans” means small businesses and employees should get PPP tax relief

(ST. PAUL, MN) – Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) released a video statement with his reaction to Minnesota’s projected surplus of $1.6 billion. Watch Gazelka’s reaction. In the video, Gazelka repeats his commitment to not raising taxes, and promises to pass…

February 8, 2021

Senate passes legislation increasing the number of COVID vaccine administers

On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation allowing dentists to administer the flu and the COVID vaccine to patients with vaccine training. The legislation gives Minnesota additional flexibility with its vaccination plan, particularly in rural communities. “I…

February 8, 2021

MINNESOTA SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL

St. Paul, MN – This week, the Minnesota Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation holding employers harmless to unemployment insurance experience ratings due to COVID-19 closures and shutdowns. Record unemployment in 2020 as a result of COVID-19…

February 8, 2021

SENATOR DAHMS CO-AUTHORS LEGISLATION PREVENTING MISUSE OF DISASTER ACCOUNT FUNDS

St. Paul, MN – Last week, Senate Republicans introduced legislation that would prohibit state disaster assistance funds from being used for civil unrest. The legislation was sparked by last summer’s Twin Cities riots and Governor Tim…

February 8, 2021

Sen. Draheim’s legislation increasing the number of COVID vaccine administers passes Senate

On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation allowing dentists to administer the flu and the COVID vaccine to patients with vaccine training. The legislation chief-authored by Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) gives Minnesota additional flexibility…

February 8, 2021

Senator David Senjem’s 2/5/21 Legislative Update

Governor Walz Releases State Budget Proposal Last week, Governor Walz announced his proposed two-year budget. The budget includes $52.4 billion in spending and calls for $1.64 billion in new taxes on Minnesotans. Amongst other things,…

February 8, 2021

Senator Bill Weber’s 2/5/21 Legislative Update

Responding to Governor Walz’s Request for a Safety Fund for Minneapolis Yesterday I joined Majority Leader Gazelka to preview a bill I am introducing to hold cities accountable to pay their mutual aid agreements. The…

February 8, 2021

Majority Leader Paul Gazelka’s 2/5/21 Legislative Update

Dear Friends and neighbors,We’ve had a busy week as all legislators have been hard at work, whether through zoom or in person, meeting with folks, discussing legislation, and working on the budget. There are two…

February 8, 2021

Senator Rich Draheim’s 2/5/21 Legislative Update

February 5, 2021Neighbors,As temperatures drop and snow falls at the end of the week here the Senate was still hard at work. I had 3 bills in Committee on Wednesday that would help farmers, speed…

February 5, 2021

Senator Jasinski’s online driver’s education bill receives first committee hearing

The Senate Transportation Committee this week heard a new bill authored by Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) that would allow driver’s education students to take some of their courses online. “One thing we have learned from…

February 5, 2021

Senator Anderson: Legislative Update

Friends and neighbors, It has been a fast-moving month at the Capitol, but I couldn’t be happier to be back representing the people of District 29. We have an interesting Session ahead of us between…

February 5, 2021

Senator Gene Dornink: Legislative Update

Friends and neighbors, Here at the Capitol, things move very quickly. I have been in St. Paul for about a month as your legislator, and it is a thrilling experience to see how everything gets…

February 5, 2021

MN Senate continues to push to safely reopen Minnesota businesses and schools

Minnesota Senate Republicans today continued their effort to safely get workers back on the job and children back into classrooms, with separate committees giving approval to two of the top priorities for the 2021 session. …

February 5, 2021

Senator Newman, Senate Republicans hold cities accountable to pay public safety bills, provide LGA reimbursement process for mutual aid

Minnesota Senate Republicans on Thursday previewed a bill that would hold cities accountable to pay their mutual aid agreements and provide a process for public safety reimbursement without diverting funds away from education and healthcare. …

February 4, 2021

Voter ID requirement clears second Senate Committee

The Minnesota Senate’s transportation committee today approved a bill that would require Minnesotans to present a valid photo identification for in-person and absentee voting. The bill establishes a new voter identification card free-of-charge to individuals…

February 4, 2021

Senator Nelson: February 5 deadline for businesses to determine eligibility for Covid relief

State Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) today alerted Minnesota businesses that they have until the end of the day on Friday, February 5 to determine if they are eligible for state coronavirus relief. While most payments…

February 4, 2021

Senate veterans committee approves bill to rename section of Highway 13 as ‘Corporal Caleb L. Erickson Memorial Highway’

The Senate’s veterans committee today approved a bill authored by Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault) to rename the section of Trunk Highway 13 from the southern border of Woodville Township to the northern border of Blooming…