Vaccines for 65 plus
It’s no secret that Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out has been slower than the national average and much slower than our neighboring states. In fact, the percentage of distributed vaccines that have been administered in Minnesota is at 36%, while North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa are at 74%, 58%, and 47%, respectively. One of my greatest concerns has been the lack of urgency in providing vaccines to our elderly and aging populations. After all, according to the Federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), COVID-19 mortality rates are highest among older adults. Compared with persons aged 35-54 years, those aged 65-74 years have eight times higher risk, and those aged 75 years and older have over thirty times higher risk of dying from COVID-19.
On Thursday, January 14, Governor Walz announced his decision to allow hospitals and vaccine providers to prioritize vaccinating individuals aged 65 and older. The State’s Vaccine Advisory Group subsequently met to discuss Governor Walz’s current vaccination plan. It was noted that seniors would be phased into vaccination efforts over three total phases. Still, we know this plan is not being executed effectively. Several Minnesota residents who testified in the Senate Aging and Long-term Care and Health and Human Services committees cited concerns over the lack of communication to the public, nonexistent transparency regarding decisions being made about vaccination phases, the withholding of doses, and seniors not receiving a priority timeline.
While I’m certainly pleased that the Walz administration has begun to prioritize our senior citizens, I still have outstanding concerns. As a State which prides itself on health care ranking,the fact that we rank 23 in the nation is simply unacceptable. We have the systems in place, the providers available, and the facilities to expedite our roll-out. Having an efficient distribution plan needs to be the Governor’s key focus. He must work with the legislature and local providers to ensure that as soon as vaccines come in the door, they go out to Minnesotans who need them. I will continue working with the Governor and his administration to ensure that elderly and vulnerable populations in Chisago and Isanti counties are accounted for in the vaccine distribution plan.
The CDC recently advised states they could vaccinate individuals 65 years and older. Other states had begun doing this much earlier than Minnesota.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing
Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Committee hearing
Clean cars
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Senate held a joint hearing with the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy and Legacy Committees regarding the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) intention to adopt the California Emission Standards through the administrative rulemaking process. If adopted, the California Emission Standards will rattle Minnesota’s economy, raising transportation costs for lower-income residents and disproportionally hurting rural and border communities. Data suggests that new vehicles’ demand will drop 7.1% and that Minnesotans can expect to pay $800-$2,500 more per vehicle, not just on EVs. The proposed benefit of the rules also seems questionable, based on data from Minnesota and across the nation. Without adopting the standards, MnDOT’s forecast shows that gasoline usage has already hit its peak and is projected to decline exponentially in the future.
Furthermore, states like Pennsylvania, which already have adopted California standards, have a smaller percentage of EVs than Minnesota. This data suggests that Minnesota’s market is already moving towards cleaner and more efficient cars, with more models hitting lots yearly. Like the energy industry, consumers seem to be determining the trend with demand as EVs become more affordable and the technology becoming more accessible. Unfortunately, through using their rulemaking power, the MPCA and Governor do not offer financial incentives to consumers, expecting Minnesota families to front the bill.
I’m incredibly disappointed that the MPCA is sneakily trying to force California Emission Standards on Minnesotans without going through the legislature or offering an avenue for input. We all want clean air and clean water, and it is something we can achieve, but forcing the market to comply will not deliver results and will only cost Minnesotans thousands. Instead, we should focus on market-driven solutions that have already been delivering more affordable EVs and environmentally friendly technology without the need of a mandate., This, coupled with incentives and increasing consumer demand, will help us reach our eventual goals. You can count on me to continue fighting back against unilateral attempts to impose arbitrary and capricious controls on Minnesota’s economy.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has begun hosting public information sessions in the agency’s effort to impose the California Car Mandate on Minnesotans. In addition to conducting a public information session on Tuesday, the MPCA will be holding another one Wednesday, and an additional session is scheduled for February 2. You can find more information for them at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/clean-cars-mn-rulemaking.
Minnesotans who wish to submit public comments can either attend one of the planned virtual hearings, submit links via the Office of Administrative Hearings website (https://mn.gov/oah/), or attend a public hearing. The hearings for public comments will take place virtually on February 22 and 23 at 3 p.m.
Mattson bill
On Thursday, January 21, the Senate GOP caucus introduced a bill that strengthens state criminal penalties against individuals convicted of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, judge, prosecutor, or correctional officer. The legislation, Senate File 82, increases the minimum sentence from 20 years with release under supervision after two-third of the sentence is served to life incarceration with a minimum of 30 years in prison before being eligible for release.
The legislation was drafted after Officer Arik Matson, a Waseca police officer was nearly killed in the line of duty last January. Waseca County Attorney Rachel Cornelius said that he noticed a glaring gap in our MN statutes, which provide for higher penalties for the murder of police officers but not corresponding increases in sentences for attempted murder.
Minnesota’s police officers are in an honorable yet difficult profession. They selflessly risk their lives every day to keep all of our communities safe and uphold our laws. Their bravery and sacrifice should not go unnoticed, and when they are attacked, we must stand by their side. Our officers carry out their responsibilities dutifully. By supporting this, we are reaffirming our commitment to their cause and signally to any criminals that attempt on an officers’ life will not be tolerated. We are giving prosecutors in Minnesota another tool in their toolbox to pursue violent criminals and committing our state to support justice for peace officers whose lives are threatened as they continue to enter dangerous situations on behalf of our citizens.
SF 263
Also, on Thursday January 21, a bill was introduced in the Senate that will provide substantial relief to Minnesota businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate File 263 is a federal conformity tax bill allowing loan forgiveness and allowable deductions of covered expenses from the Federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be excluded from state income and corporate franchise taxes. Additionally, the bill gives some businesses greater flexibility to file as corporations. Without the bill, Minnesota companies may have to pay millions in taxes on PPP loan forgiveness that was meant to keep businesses alive. Thousands of Minnesota businesses received, and will receive, loan forgiveness through the PPP program. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan through the Federal Government’s Small Business Administration that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government is offering forgiveness to these loans if businesses maintain employee compensation levels along with spending at least 60% of the proceeds on payroll costs.
I fully support this legislation and believe that our small businesses desperately need support during these difficult times. If we don’t act now, the future of communities in Chisago and Isanti counties may be permanently compromised and I’m not willing to let that happen. I believe this bill is a step in the direction of giving our small businesses a much-needed lifeline. I must reiterate my consistent belief that the only way to foster permanent economic recovery is through fully reopening the state’s economy and I hope governor Walz will take that into account moving forward.
March for Life
On Friday, January 22 thousands of Minnesotans gathered virtually to support the annual March for Life. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions legalized abortion on demand nationwide. Each year, pro-life Minnesotans mark the anniversary by gathering at the Capitol in St. Paul.
I believe life is priceless and must always be defended from conception until our dying day. We live in a nation where over 60 million unborn children have perished from abortion and abortive procedures are often used as a form of birth control. I was proud to gather with my colleagues last Friday to remember those that have been lost to the tragedy of abortion and advocate to everyone that we must put more value on the gift of life.
Pratt unemployment insurance bill
On Monday, January 25 The Senate passed bipartisan legislation that holds employers harmless to unemployment insurance experience ratings due to COVID-19 closures and shutdowns. Record unemployment in 2020, as a result of COVID-19 and the Governor’s Executive Orders, would have dramatically increased the amount businesses would need to pay into the Unemployment Insurance Program.
Many employers had to lay off employees because of the pandemic. Under ordinary conditions, these business owners would be forced to pay a higher premium if they have to draw from the insurance pool. This bill is going to help our businesses and employers afford to hire back employees through guaranteeing employers are not penalized drawing from the insurance pool due to external forces which are out of their control. I look forward to continuing to work on reopening our economy so businesses owners can recoup their losses through the natural processes of our free market economic systems.
Governor’s budget
On Tuesday January 26, Governor Tim Walz announced his proposed two-year budget which includes $52.4 billion in spending. If passed, this would be the third largest budget in state history, increasing taxes by $1.66 billion and giving Minnesota the second highest business tax rate in the entire country. The Walz tax plan also proposes a new fifth tier income tax rate at 10.85%, which means Minnesota would have the third highest income tax rate in the country. Another notable item included in the budget is $150 million in appropriation bonds for the Minneapolis riots.
For me, the Governor’s proposed budget is a non-starter. Minnesota families and businesses have been through enough over the past year without having to give even more of their hard-earned tax dollars to the state. Like most families, it is time for our government to clamp down on the pocketbook. That means no tax increases, decreasing the size of government, and eliminating ballooning waste. This, coupled with reforms that help our residents, will ensure that we best prepare Minnesota for financial recovery and I’m prepared to roll up my selves and get to work on this critical issue in a bipartisan manner. At the end of the day, we can fund our budget and get Minnesota back on track without imposing new taxes.