Dear neighbors,
Today is an interim deadline for bills in the legislative session, as well as the final day before a break week. During the break, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep. Meg Luger-Nikolai, and I will host a town hall for constituents in our senate district. Please also read further down for some updates from the Capitol, many following up on issues addressed in my last update.
Town Hall: Wednesday at 6:00pm
Please join Leader Murphy, Rep. Luger-Nikolai, and me for a District 64 Town Hall this coming Wednesday, April 1, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Please click here to RSVP; the location will be sent prior to the event. I’m honored to represent a community so engaged with our work at the Legislature, and these gatherings are always rewarding and energizing. The event is free and open to everyone in the district. We hope you can join us!
Making Life More Affordable
Anyone in our state who works hard and earns a normal salary should be able to afford their life and plan for the future. Unfortunately for too many families, that’s simply not the reality. Wealth inequality has been increasing for years, and recently prices have surged due to Trump administration tariffs and the war with Iran. It can be hard if not impossible to keep up.
In response, my House DFL colleagues and I recently launched an affordability agenda. We’re working to make health care more accessible and affordable by holding insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations accountable, expanding access to mental health services, and working toward universal coverage. We’re working to tackle the high cost of early care and learning – a longtime focus of mine – so that parents can stay in the workforce and our main street economies can be vibrant. We’re working to increase the supply of affordable housing and enact policies that keep the cost of rent under control. And we’re working to lower energy bills, address high prices of groceries, and to protect consumers across our economy. I spoke more about our plan here.
One major step forward in helping Minnesotans to afford their lives is the Paid Family & Medical Leave program, which started on January 1. My Republican colleagues have repeatedly attempted to dismantle the program, including through a bill heard in committee this week which would exempt employees of small businesses. You can see my thoughts on this here.
Action Against Gun Violence
In my last update, I talked about some of the proposals that I’m supporting to address gun violence. Last week the House Public Safety Committee considered one of these: a bill that I’ve authored, in partnership with Attorney General Keith Ellison, to reinstate the ban on so-called “ghost guns.” These guns, which can be 3D-printed from materials purchased online, are untraceable because they lack serial numbers and can sidestep background checks. They were fully prohibited in Minnesota until a court ruling last August. Unfortunately, at the hearing Republicans voted to block reinstatement of the ban, as well as reinstatement of a separate ban on “binary triggers” (which greatly increase the rate of gunfire). Please click here to see my comments after the vote.
The week before that, a separate committee heard my bill to increase the ability of local governments to regulate firearms, in the absence of state action. I’m sorry to say that Republicans voted to block that bill as well.
And finally, proposals to join multiple other states in banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines were heard in committee and then again last night on the House floor. These bills too have been blocked so far by Republican votes. Click here to see my comments from the floor vote last night.
One positive note: Several years ago, I authored a task force to examine how to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. (This built on my work as a prosecutor outside of the Legislature.) The Public Safety Committee recently approved several proposals coming out of that task force, including a bill clarifying the state’s ban on gun possession for those convicted of domestic violence. Find out more about this effort in this video.
Responding to the Federal Surge
As with gun violence, proposals from my House DFL colleagues and me in response to Operation Metro Surge have been receiving hearings in the House. These include bills to limit the circumstances when law enforcement can wear masks (click here to see my floor remarks); to focus local and state law enforcement on public safety rather than immigration enforcement (click here to see my committee remarks); and to prohibit ICE agents from accessing public schools. Unfortunately, all of these and more have been blocked by Republicans, including last night on the House floor. We will keep pushing.
In the meantime, Governor Walz this week issued an important executive order; I was proud to be present for the signing. The order will create a Council on Recording the Truth of Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS, which will gather testimony and data and make recommendations to prevent future harm and support the state’s long-term recovery. Through firsthand accounts, the Council will ensure that the experiences of the people of Minnesota are preserved and heard. Minnesotans with experience in the areas of immigration, civil rights, education, law enforcement, and more are encouraged to apply; the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has more information.
Information Regarding Immigration and Your Rights
Especially with the current federal overreach, reliable information about immigration and rights is critical. Please review and pass along two new websites on these topics. The LawHelpMN immigration legal help provides a guide to your rights and resources, including links to legal assistance. And the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has established a guide to your rights when encountering immigration enforcement, including how to report violations of your rights by federal officers.
Thank you for the honor of serving our community,
 | | State Representative Dave Pinto (he/him)
Co-chair, Workforce, Labor, & Economic Development Finance & Policy Committee
DFL Lead, Fraud Prevention & Agency Oversight Committee
rep.dave.pinto@house.mn.gov
(651) 296-4199
#EverybodyIn |
Legislative website: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/64b
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