Sen. Saxhaug

Veterans Services Subject of High-Profile Committee Hearing

Senator Tom Saxhaug (DFL-Grand Rapids), chair of the Minnesota Senate’s State Departments and Veterans Finance Division, led a hearing on Wednesday focused on improving veterans services in the state. Senators heard bills focused on veterans homes, interim housing for Minnesota veterans, and a piece of legislation on badly needed mental health services for veterans, authored by Senator Saxhaug himself. The Division also heard an informational presentation from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) on the progress of veteran home construction and funding.

Iron Range Leaders Respond to Passage of Extended Benefits

Months after discussion of renewing Iron Range unemployment benefits was first discussed, and 16 days after the start of session, the Governor is finally getting a clean unemployment insurance benefits extension bill on his desk. After urging from Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) and Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm), the House of Representatives suspended its rules Thursday afternoon in order to pass both the 26 weeks of unemployment benefits bill and the unemployment insurance tax cuts bill. Sen. Tomassoni offered this statement in response to the successful passage of both bills.