Steve Cwodzinski represents District 48 in the southwest Twin Cities metro. Learn more about Sen. Cwodzinski. Read more news from Sen. Cwodzinski.
On Sunday, April 11, 2021, Daunte Wright was killed by Brooklyn Center police. In response to this devastating event, Senators Isaacson, Wiklund, Johnson Stewart, Eaton, Pappas, Putnam, Dziedzic, Dibble, Carlson, Port, Murphy, Klein, McEwen, Kent, Cwodzinski, Wiger, and Marty release the following statement in support of the Minnesota Senate’s People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus members:
On Thursday, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced findings that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination had been found in 98 out of 101 closed landfills across the state, and that 59 of these closed landfills in 41 counties have levels that exceed the Minnesota Department of Health’s health-based guidance values for PFAS. PFAS are forever chemicals that have been shown to cause adverse health effects such as changes in development, liver and thyroid function, immune response, increased kidney damage, and certain cancers.
Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Mary Catherine Ricker announced Tuesday that she would be stepping down from her role as Commissioner to return to the classroom. Following her announcement, it was announced by Governor Walz that Deputy Commissioner Heather Mueller would be appointed Commissioner effective April 1.
Today, March 9, 2021, Senate DFLers convened a press conference to discuss their priority in this legislative session around investing in our students and schools so that our education system supports all students, regardless of their race, zip code or economic status. Among their education legislative priorities this year is fully funding education to provide relief to districts that were affected this past year due to COVID-19 and to make efforts to close the opportunity gap within Minnesota’s current system.
The February budget forecast from Minnesota Management and Budget was presented today with a budget and economic forecast projecting a positive balance of $1.6 billion for the FY 2022-23 biennium. Minnesota’s budget outlook is significantly better for this biennium and the next due to an improved U.S. economic outlook that is bolstered by large federal actions that have emerged since November and were not incorporated in earlier projections.
Thank you for your work to ensure that all Minnesotans voices and perspectives are heard in our state legislature. As we work for the good of all Minnesotans, we write to strongly encourage you to support legislation that we will be introducing alongside Representative Hodan Hassan. This bill makes small changes to ensure that all Minnesotans have full access to the religious freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota.