Senate POCI Caucus & Senate DFL members demand immediate negotiations of the Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety Budget Bill

On Monday, members of the Senate DFL caucus joined the Senate People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus in sending a letter to Governor Walz, Speaker Hortman, Leader Gazelka, and other legislative leaders to express their determination to end the persistent racial disparities that plague the state of Minnesota.
In the letter, members of the Senate DFL and Senate POCI Caucus call for immediate negotiations of the Judiciary and Public Safety Budget Bill so that discussions of police reform and accountability are mediated independently from other pieces of legislation and therefore cannot be used as a bargaining chip during budget negotiations. Additionally, POCI Caucus members introduced a deadline of May 3^rd for the bill to be sent to the floor of both houses for a vote to ensure that provisions of the Judiciary and Public Safety Budget Bill remain completely separate from all other negotiations.

Please find the letter attached below.

The Senate People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus includes Sens. Mary Kunesh-Podein (41), Melisa Franzen (49), Foung Hawj (67), Omar Fateh (62), Bobby Joe Champion (59), and Patricia Torres Ray (63).

Senator Bobby Joe Champion

Senate President Senate District 59

Bobby Joe Champion represents District 59, which includes portions of downtown and north Minneapolis in Hennepin County. He is also an attorney.

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Senator Omar Fateh

Senate President Senate District 62

Omar Fateh represents Senate District 62, which covers the community of South Minneapolis.

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Senator Mary Kunesh

Senate President Senate District 39

Mary K. Kunesh represents Senate District 39, which covers the communities of St. Anthony Village, New Brighton, Hilltop, Columbia Heights, Fridley, and a portion of Spring Lake Park.

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Senator Melisa López Franzen

Senate President Senate District 49

Melisa López Franzen represents District 49 in the southwest Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Senator Patricia Torres Ray

Senate President Senate District 63

Patricia Torres Ray represents District 63, which includes portions of southeastern Minneapolis and eastern Richfield in Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Senator Foung Hawj

Senate President Senate District 67

Foung Hawj represents District 67, which includes the east side of Saint Paul in Ramsey County in the central Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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