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Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Get mad about MinnesotaCare, but Walz and DFL legislative leaders are not the real culprits
Majority Leader Erin Murphy. DFL-St. Paul, and DFL caucus members outline their focus and work ahead for the 2025 session at a press conference February 10, 2025. Photo by A.J. Olmscheid/ Senate Media Services. Progressives are outraged that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and House leader Melissa Hortman agreed to a budget deal that will strip health insurance from undocumented adults who became newly eligible for the coverage on Jan. 1 Here's Minneapolis City Councilmember Jason Chavez: I'm extremely disappointed … They made a deal with the GOP to strip away health care from undocumented residents. Chavez takes particular aim at Murphy, hinting at a potential primary challenge. 'We won't forget that your re-election is next year.' The anger is understandable. At the end of the year, at least 15,000 Minnesotans will be kicked off MinnesotaCare — a public insurance program for the working poor created by then-Republican Gov. Arnie Carlson — if the deal passes. Only undocumented children will still be able to access coverage. These adults will no longer get routine care, which will worsen chronic conditions or allow undiagnosed conditions to fester. They'll go to emergency rooms for care. Minnesota hospitals, which favor keeping the program's eligibility intact, will be forced to provide more uncompensated care. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Kenney offered some moral clarity on the subject recently: 'We need to be able to offer health care to anyone who is here, no matter how they got here, who let them in. Are we going to let them die on the streets? Are we going to let them suffer? Or are we going to allow them — all of us — the basic health care that we need?' But Chavez's 'extremely disappointed' attack is wildly misplaced. Walz, Murphy and Hortman share power with Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth, for whom cutting the MinnesotaCare benefit is a top priority, perhaps her most important priority. Walz, Murphy and Hortman had to consider the repercussions of a stalemate that could lead to a government shutdown July 1. Which would be devastating to everyone who relies on state government for services, which is basically all of us — but especially our most vulnerable. I suspect most progressives in the Legislature know this, which is why at least so far, we're not hearing widespread threats to withhold votes to stop the deal, except on the health budget bill that will include the MinnesotaCare provision. Their opposition on that vote will be mostly symbolic, as Murphy should have no problem wrangling some Republican votes. (Caveat: It's a fluid situation, and progressives may wind up risking a shutdown to fight for MinnesotaCare for undocumented people. That's a difficult choice; let's hope they make it with eyes wide open.) We should also remember what Walz, Murphy and Hortman have managed to protect: paid family and medical leave; earned sick and safe time; and unemployment benefits for hourly school workers, which were three significant achievements of the 2023 Legislature. They've also protected schools and social service programs from draconian cuts, despite the state's structural deficit. Instead of the circular firing squad, Democrats might consider who the real culprit here is: Republicans who have made taking subsidized health care away from working people a primary policy goal. Why not turn your fire on them? State Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, is out here bragging in a press release about how he's 'been at the forefront' of taking people's health care. Rep. Elliott Engen, R-White Bear Township, told a a Democratic senator to 'cry harder' for caring about people losing their health care. If you want to get mad at Democrats, get mad that they lost control of the House last year, which is what allowed taking health care away from working people to rise to the top of the issue agenda. Which means getting mad at former President Joe Biden for running for a second term. And getting mad at Kamala Harris for running a lackluster campaign. And getting mad at Minnesota Democrats for running behind Harris in enough districts to lose the House. And when it comes to winning the next election, ill-informed attacks on people trying to govern aren't helpful either. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Blue Dog' Democrats vote to roll back paid sick leave for workers at small farms and businesses
Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato, talks with Sen. Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, before a committee hearing on Jan. 29, 2025. (Photo by A.J. Olmscheid/Senate Media Services) Six self-described 'Blue Dog' Senate Democrats voted with Republicans on Tuesday to weaken the paid sick leave law they supported just two years ago and repeal the benefit for tens of thousands of workers at small farms and micro-businesses. The bill would need to pass the House and win the signature of Gov. Tim Walz — neither assured — before becoming law. Still, the vote marks a significant departure from the past two years, when Senate Democrats voted in lock-step to pass a sweeping pro-labor agenda with a single-seat majority. 'It's okay to pass laws and vote yes and then learn more information and make changes,' Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, said during Tuesday's debate. 'That's not a shameful thing. That's not weak. That's strong.' Democrats passed the sick and safe time law in 2023, entitling workers to one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work up to 48 hours — i.e. six paid sick days a year for full-time employees. The bill (SF2300) carves out farms with five or fewer employees and other businesses with three or fewer employees. The bill also allows employers to request proof of an illness or safety emergency after two consecutive days, down from three under current law. Sen. Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, who represents a purple district in the east metro suburbs, led the effort to pass what she called 'modest, common sense improvements' that help small businesses while maintaining sick leave protections for the vast majority of the state's 3 million workers. 'I'm proud of the earned sick and safe time law we passed because I've experienced what it's like to be a worker without it,' Seeberger said, ticking off her experiences as a waitress, lawyer, small business owner and paramedic. But she also said she needs to be responsive to constituents and has heard from many employers about workers abusing the law by using sick leave to extend a vacation or a weekend. Other Democrats blasted the bill and pointed out that no matter the size of the farm or business, workers are just as likely to get sick or have to care for a sick child or be a victim of sexual assault or stalking. Senate Labor Committee Chair Jen McEwen, DFL-Duluth, said it was 'shameful' that the farmworker carve out received support from members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, putting the emphasis on 'farmer' and 'labor.' 'These farmworkers are some of the least protected, powerless workers in our society,' McEwen said, noting that farmworkers are excluded from many of the same rights guaranteed to other workers like the right to form a union. The small farm exemption would affect between 5,000 and 27,0000 workers, McEwen said. The carve-out for micro-businesses would affect between 50,000 to 80,000 workers, Seeberger said. 'No one — not a farmworker, not a tradesperson, not a nurse, not a teacher — no worker in our economy should be fired or disciplined or risk the ability to provide for their family because of a short-term illness that they have, because of the need to care for a sick family member, or because they've suffered domestic abuse or sexual abuse or stalking,' McEwen said. Supporters of the exemption for small farms said it was critical to protecting family farms as they fend off corporate consolidation and confront myriad other regulations. 'We are losing our family farmer,' Hauschild said. 'Family farms are dying.' DFL Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato co-authored the bill with Seeberger and Republican Sens. Jordan Rasmussen and Gene Dornink. DFL Sen. Matt Klein, who announced Tuesday he's running for Congress in the 2nd District, voted with DFL Sens. Robert Kupec, Aric Putnam, Frentz, Hauschild and Seeberger for the bill. Sen. Jim Abeler was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. Frentz has also authored a bill with Republicans watering down the state's paid family leave program slated to begin next year. Seeberger was also an author but recently had her name stricken. The term 'Blue Dog Democrat' and the related 'Yellow Dog Democrat' have their origins among moderate, southern Democrats who retained loyalty to the party despite its shift left but often voted with Republicans to help pass the agenda of President Ronald Reagan, for instance.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DFL Sen. Matt Klein announces run for 2nd Congressional District
Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, presents the sports betting bill to the State and Local Government Committee February 13, 2025. The bill failed to pass on a 6-6 tie vote. Photo by A.J. Olmscheid/Senate Media Services. Minnesota Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, a Mayo doctor first elected to the Legislature in 2016, announced Tuesday he's running for Rep. Angie Craig's congressional seat in the 2nd District. 'As a senator, I've worked across the aisle to pass common sense laws that protect Minnesotans from financial fraud and predatory lending, lower prescription drug costs by holding Big Pharma accountable, defend reproductive freedom, and make life more affordable for working families,' Klein said in a statement. The 2nd Congressional District is Minnesota's most competitive, but Craig's centrist politics has helped her win four consecutive elections in the purple south metro district. In 2024, she won by double digit percentage points despite Republicans' nationwide success. She recently announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate. Klein currently serves as the chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. Most recently, Klein has championed legislation to legalize online sports betting in Minnesota, but that effort has stalled again this year. He's also a vocal proponent of passing a revolving door ban, which would bar lawmakers from becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office. Klein, a married father of five, grew up in the east metro and attended the Mayo Medical School. Klein helped Gov. Tim Walz during his 2022 reelection by sharply calling out Walz's GOP opponent, fellow physician Scott Jensen, who had raised doubts about the severity of the pandemic and the necessity of universal vaccination. Former DFL Sen. Matt Little is also running for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Businessman and internet poster Mike Norton is exploring a run. Other potential candidates include GOP state Sen. Eric Pratt; 2024 GOP nominee Joe Teirab; and 2020 and 2022 GOP nominee Tyler Kistner.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minnesota Senate Democrats propose new tax on social media companies
A view of the Capitol dome on March 6, 2025. Photo by A.J. Olmscheid/Senate Media Services. Minnesota Senate Democrats are proposing a first-in-the-nation tax on large social media companies that collect data on Minnesota consumers. The bill, chief authored by Senate Taxes Committee Chair Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, would impose a tax on social media companies based on the number of monthly active Minnesota consumers from whom the company collects data. Minnesota is facing a looming multi-billion dollar budget deficit, and lawmakers are working to cut spending and generate new revenue to offset the imbalance. In an interview, Rest said taxing social media companies is a solution that doesn't hurt Minnesotans — it doesn't cut critical social services or increase their taxes. 'We know we're going to see some cuts, but I also felt it was my job to look for some fair ways to provide the revenue,' Rest said. 'We're talking about folks like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. We've been giving to them for years and years, and now we're going to ask those social media businesses to participate in solving Minnesota's budget challenges.' Under the bill (SF 3197), if a social media company has fewer than 100,000 monthly consumers from Minnesota, it wouldn't be taxed. If the social media company has between 500,000 and 1 million Minnesota consumers, the tax per month would be $40,000 plus 25 cents times the number of consumers over 500,000. For the largest social media companies — those that have over 1 million Minnesota consumers — the tax per month would be $165,000 plus 50 cents times the number of consumers over 1 million. The Department of Revenue estimates that the tax would apply to 15 social media companies. The tax, which would begin in January 2026, would generate around $46 million in the first fiscal year, $92 million in the second and about $100 million annually after that. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, reported $62 billion in profit in 2024, on $164 billion in revenue. Even as the companies make hundreds of billions of profit, social scientists are sounding the alarm on the widespread use of the apps, especially by young people. Republicans this year have said that they will not support any new taxes on Minnesotans, so lawmakers have been looking for areas to cut spending. When asked whether House Republicans would support a tax on social media companies, a spokesperson said no. 'Our position is no tax increases,' a House GOP caucus spokesperson said. New York since 2021 has proposed taxing social media companies for data collection, or data mining, and a similar bill is again being considered by the New York Legislature this year. Rest said that she hopes Minnesota's legislation can be regarded as a model for other states that are experiencing budget shortfalls. The bill will be heard in the Senate Taxes Committee on Wednesday, and Rest said House Taxes co-chair Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, will be introducing the House version soon.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge finds probable cause against Eichorn for enticement of minor, allows release to halfway house
Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids), left, consults with Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), right, during a vote Thursday, May 12. Photo by Catherine J. Davis/Senate Media Services. A federal judge on Wednesday said she had 'no doubt' there's probable cause — enough evidence — against former state Sen. Justin Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, to sustain a federal charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. District Judge Shannon Elkins ruled against the prosecution, however, in allowing Eichorn to move to a halfway house under a long list of conditions. The prosecution argued Eichorn should be held in jail as he awaits trial because he allegedly attempted to conceal evidence and lied about owning a firearm. During a two-hour hearing Wednesday — which combined a hearing for probable cause and a detention hearing — the prosecution and defense dissected the messages Eichorn allegedly sent to a person he believed was a 17-year-old girl but was actually an undercover Bloomington police officer. Eichorn, who entered the federal courtroom in St. Paul escorted by U.S. Marshal officers wearing bright orange, was arrested on March 17 at a parking lot in Bloomington where he allegedly expected to meet the underage girl to pay for sex. He resigned from his Senate seat a few days after his arrest and moments before the Senate planned to expel him from the body. Attempted coercion and enticement of a minor comes with a mandatory federal sentence of 10 years in prison. In a court filing earlier this week, prosecutors alleged that Eichorn made phone calls from jail to an unnamed woman — referred to as 'Individual A' in court documents — to arrange for the woman to pick up a laptop from Eichorn's St. Paul apartment, where he lived during the legislative session. Charles Hawkins, Eichorn's defense attorney, on Wednesday revealed that that person was Eichorn's wife, Brittany Eichorn — who filed for divorce earlier this week. When law enforcement agents entered Eichorn's St. Paul apartment, they found a red bag containing $1,000 cash, an SD memory card, a handgun and ammunition, a laptop and a factory-reset iPhone 6. Eichorn told a probation officer in a pre-trial interview that he didn't have any firearms in the St. Paul apartment. The prosecution said Eichorn lied, but Hawkins said Eichorn had trouble hearing the interviewer, who was conducting the interview in a U.S. Marshall's holding cell with eight to ten other people. 'I respectfully suggest that anything that occurred was an honest mistake,' Hawkins told the judge. Hawkins also said that Eichorn had the gun in his St. Paul apartment because he had received increasing threats after co-authoring a bill in the Minnesota Senate classifying 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' as a mental illness. Regarding the factory-reset iPhone 6, FBI Special Agent Matthew Vogel said investigators had not completed forensic analysis of the phone, but preliminary results show the iPhone was likely reset to factory settings on Feb. 28 — weeks prior to Eichorn's arrest. On March 20, Brittany Eichorn in a recorded phone call from jail told Justin Eichorn that 'apartment stuff is taken care of, just so you know.' She told Eichorn she planned to go to the apartment to pick up a laptop the following day. As FBI agents prepared to search Eichorn's apartment on the morning of March 21, they encountered Brittany Eichorn. She asked to enter the apartment to retrieve a laptop she used for business. The FBI agents declined. Hawkins told the judge that the Eichorns own a rental property company, which oversees 138 units, and Brittany Eichorn was trying to get the laptop for the leasing business, not to conceal or destroy evidence. The judge said the prosecution did not present enough evidence to clearly indicate that Eichorn was a danger to the community or tried to tamper with evidence. 'Because it is unclear and because there is so much gray, the court finds the government has not met its burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,' Elkins said. In the probable cause hearing, Eichorn's defense tried to poke holes in the prosecution's charge, noting that Eichorn didn't formally agree over the messages to pay for sex, though he did ask about the prices, including how much it would cost to have sex without a condom. The defense likened it asking questions about buying a car. The prosecution said that Eichorn carried out the act of paying for commercial sex as far as he could take it and repeatedly messaged the undercover officer posing as a girl asking when she was available for sex even when he didn't receive a response. 'He arrived exactly in the location the undercover agent posing as a minor girl told him to park,' said Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bobier. 'The only thing that got in between Eichorn and having sex with a minor and paying for it is that it was a cop instead.' Hawkins, during a cross examination of FBI agent Vogel, said that Eichorn could have decided to not go through with having sex with the girl once he arrived to the Bloomington location. 'You don't know what he intended to do when he arrived there,' Hawkins said to Vogel. When ruling that there was probable cause against Eichorn, the judge said that there doesn't need to be a formal agreement to pay for sex, but the law states that an attempt to offer a minor anything in exchange for sex is illegal.
