Latest news with #MelissaHortman
10 hours ago
- Politics
Minnesota budget deal cuts health care for adults who entered the US illegally
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Adults living in the U.S. illegally will be excluded from a state-run health care program under an overall budget deal that the closely divided Minnesota Legislature convened to pass in a special session Monday. Repealing a 2023 state law that made those immigrants eligible for the MinnesotaCare program for the working poor was a priority for Republicans in the negotiations that produced the budget agreement. The Legislature is split 101-100, with the House tied and Democrats holding just a one-seat majority in the Senate, and the health care compromise was a bitter pill for Democrats to accept. The change is expected to affect about 17,000 residents. After an emotional near four-hour debate, the House aroved the bill 68-65. Under the agreement, the top House Democratic leader, Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, was the only member of her caucus to vote yes. The bill then went to the Senate, where it passed 37-30. Democratic Majority Leader Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, called it 'a wound on the soul of Minnesota,' but kept her promise to vote yes as part of the deal, calling it "among the most painful votes I've ever taken." Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who insisted on maintaining eligibility for children who aren't in the country legally, has promised to sign the legislation, and all 13 other bills scheduled for action in the special session, to complete a $66 billion, two-year budget that will take effect July 1. 'This is 100% about the GOP campaign against immigrants,' said House Democratic Floor Leader Jamie Long, of Minneapolis, who voted no. 'From Trump's renewed travel ban announced this week, to his effort to expel those with protected status, to harassing students here to study, to disproportionate military and law enforcement responses that we've seen from Minneapolis to L.A., this all comes back to attacking immigrants and the name of dividing us.' But GOP Rep. Jeff Backer, of Browns Valley, the lead author of the bill, said taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize health care for people who aren't in the country legally. Backer said California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has proposed freezing enrollment for immigrants without legal status in a similar state-funded program and that Illinois' Democratic governor, JB Pritzker, has proposed cutting a similar program. He said residents can still buy health insurance on the private market regardless of their immigration status. 'This is about being fiscally responsible,' Backer said. Enrollment by people who entered the country illegally in MinnesotaCare has run triple the initial projections, which Republicans said could have pushed the costs over $600 million over the next four years. Critics said the change won't save any money because those affected will forego preventive care and need much more expensive care later. 'People don't suddenly stop getting sick when they don't have insurance, but they do put off seeking care until a condition gets bad enough to require a visit to the emergency room, increasing overall health care costs for everyone,' Bernie Burnham, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, told reporters at a news conference organized by the critics. Walz and legislative leaders agreed on the broad framework for the budget over four weeks ago, contrasting the bipartisan cooperation that produced it with the deep divisions at the federal level in Washington. But with the tie in the House and the razor-thin Senate Democratic majority, few major policy initiatives got off the ground before the regular session ended May 19. Leaders announced Friday that the details were settled and that they had enough votes to pass everything in the budget package.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
GOP scores win as Legislature repeals health care for undocumented adults
GOP scores win as Legislature repeals health care for undocumented adults originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Minnesota lawmakers voted Monday to strip MinnesotaCare health insurance from undocumented adults. The measure, which was the most controversial of the legislative session, passed both the House and Senate after leaders reached a budget agreement to avoid a government shutdown. In the evenly-divided House, DFL caucus leader Melissa Hortman was the only Democratic lawmaker to vote for the bill's passage. In the DFL-controlled Senate, Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope and others joined Republicans in voting for the bill. "I cannot vote to shut down our state, I just can't," Rest said in brief remarks on the Senate floor. "I made an agreement, I gave my word," Murphy said shortly before the vote. "I will vote for this. And it's among the most painful votes I've ever taken." The move rolls back a 2023 legislative accomplishment for Democrats, handing a major win to GOP lawmakers who refused a series of offers from DFL leaders and continued to leverage the threat of a government shutdown to get the bill across the finish line. Around 17,000 undocumented adults are currently enrolled in MinnesotaCare, which offers state-subsidized health care plans for low income people who pay premiums in exchange for coverage. The move is expected to save the state $56.9 million in the 2026-27 biennium. Opponents of the bill decried the measure as shameful and several Democratic lawmakers have said the change will cause some undocumented immigrants to die as serious health issues go undetected or untreated. Democrats have also claimed fiscal responsibility is not the motive of the GOP, as the change could drive costs associated with emergency hospital care. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Saturday special session? Leaders in Minnesota Legislature hope to avoid layoff notices to thousands of state workers
Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz hope there will be a special session of the Legislature this weekend before layoff notices will be sent to nearly 30,000 state workers on Monday. They had pushed for mid-week, but by Wednesday they said negotiators still hadn't buttoned up outstanding issues, causing further delays. Walz will call a special session when the bills are complete, drafted and ready for passage. Leaders and key lawmakers have been working on the remaining parts of the budget for weeks, largely out of public view. DFL Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman said Wednesday they are "urgently" trying to finish by the weekend to avoid sending state employees that dreaded message. But other self-imposed deadlines have come and gone since the regular session ended May 19 and lawmakers began their behind-the-scenes work to finish everything up. "We are making progress. It is as slow as molasses, but molasses is good, and we are going to get done. I cross my fingers," said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-Saint Paul. This is the most closely divided Legislature in Minnesota history, which makes the process uniquely delicate and difficult to get everything done. It's unclearif there are even the votes to pass some parts of the carefully crafted agreement they made in late May. "We're at a point right now where, quite candidly, and the legislators know this—I'm not even saying as a pejorative—every single legislator is potentially a veto over the whole deal to get some of this done," Walz said. Among the sticking points are how they will pass a rollback of state health coverage for undocumented immigrants—a compromise reached by GOP and DFL leaders. There is also some contention with a transportation funding package and provisions in a tax bill. Many DFL lawmakers deeply oppose the cuts to MinnesotaCare for adults who are living in the country illegally. Murphy has said it needs to be a stand-alone bill to ensure passage, an acknowledgment of the many likely defectors she will have in her caucus, which only has a one-seat majority in the chamber. Republicans will need to support it. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said for a stand-alone bill to happen, her caucus needs language in the legislation to ensure it won't be vetoed. Republicans, she said, want that assurance, even though Walz signed the agreement with leaders that included the change. "Some of the things that we're looking at is if that would be broken out into a separate bill, there would have to be a guaranteed contingency—say, funding for MDH, or whatever that might look like—that would be a guarantee that that bill would both be passed and enacted," she said. If lawmakers do not finish by the weekend, the layoff notices will be sent Monday morning, Walz said. Failure to pass the rest of the budget by June 30 will trigger a partial government shutdown on July 1, the start of the next fiscal year. The governor told reporters he doesn't think that will happen, but nevertheless Minnesota Management and Budget—which oversees the state's finances and payroll and HR operations for state workers—is following protocols to prepare for that possibility. Some state services, agencies and programs would remain operational in that scenario because the Legislature did approve some budget bills before session ended last month, like spending plans for the judiciary and state government offices like the secretary of state and attorney general.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Budget talks continue at Minnesota Capitol as health insurance for undocumented adults drives DFL wedge
Budget talks continue at the Minnesota Capitol but still no breakthrough in reaching an agreement on a balanced budget. Legislative leaders walked into talks some without saying much on Tuesday. "People have worked through the last few days, so we will see," said Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth. DFL Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman sounded slightly more optimistic, saying "we are hoping to wrap things up this week." One of the biggest obstacles is a DFL divide over free health insurance for adult undocumented immigrants Protestors took over the hall outside the governor's office, furious that he and DFL Senate Majority leader back a compromise that would take the health insurance benefit away from undocumented adults but leave it in place for children. "The governor is saying he will stand strong but will he, if he goes back on his promises on immigrants what else is he going to go back on," said Erika Zurawski, who protested the policy. If no agreement is reached by June 1, layoff notices will start going out to state employees. The final deadline is June 30. If there is no agreement by then the state will enter a government shutdown — the first since 2011. During the 20-day 2011 shutdown thousands of nonessential state workers were furloughed. And while public safety employees including the state patrol kept working, state parks were all shut down
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Marking George Floyd's death 5 years ago, Minnesota state leaders share remarks
On May 25, 2020 on the corner of 38th and Chicago, George Floyd was murdered by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. A series of community events took place in Minneapolis to honor the life of George Floyd on Friday, with organizers hoping to create a space for healing, reflection and a commitment to racial justice. At the same time, a group is working hard to preserve plywood murals in Minnesota from the movement sparked by Floyd's death. Minneapolis Jacob Frey, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman — along with other members of the Minnesota Legislature — all released statements reflecting on the last five years since Floyd's death. Mayor Jacob Frey's statement "Five years ago today, George Floyd was murdered by a former Minneapolis police officer. That moment shook our city and our country -- and it demanded that we change. "Since then, our city has come together to push not just for reform, but to rebuild the system. We created stronger oversight, overhauled our use of force policy, changed how officers are trained and hired, and rethought how we respond to people in crisis. We've made progress, but the work is far from over. "Change on this scale is never easy. It requires time, resources, and commitment. And it requires that we stand by that commitment when we lose support from our federal partners. We have a responsibility not just to the city, but to a nation that is watching Minneapolis to see if police reform can survive a White House that is rooting for its failure. At a time when the federal government is fighting to roll our progress back, cities like Minneapolis have to lead the way forward. "We owe that to George Floyd and his family, our Black and Brown neighbors, and to everyone who has felt the weight of injustice and demanded better. "The work continues. And Minneapolis will keep showing what's possible when a city commits not just to saying the right thing, but to doing the right thing." Gov. Tim Walz's statement "Today, we honor and remember George Floyd. Five years ago, his death marked a turning point in our nation and sparked a global movement. Minnesotans raised their voices, calling for justice and real, meaningful change to prevent a murder like this from ever happening again. "In Minnesota, we heeded that call for change. We've made key reforms to policing and public safety, including banning chokeholds and neck restraints, imposing a duty to intercede on officers who witness a colleague using excessive force, and banning warrior-style training. "The most important legacy we must carry on is ensuring that race and identity don't determine Minnesotans' safety or ability to thrive. Everyone deserves to be respected and protected by law enforcement. Our work to combat discrimination and ensure the humanity of every person in Minnesota is protected is ongoing. "Gwen and I are holding George Floyd's family and friends in our prayers. Minnesota continues to mourn his loss and honor his legacy in hopes that it might make our state better for generations to come." Rep. Melissa Hortman's statement "Today is a very difficult day for Minnesotans, especially the BIPOC community. George Floyd's life mattered, and he should still be alive today. "After George Floyd was brutally murdered, the House DFL, led by members of the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, took bold action to reform policing, protect Minnesotans' civil rights, and fight for racial justice. We declared racism a public health crisis, established the Select Committee on Racial Justice, and enacted many of the committee's recommendations in the years that followed. "We will keep doing everything in our power to prevent the senseless loss of life we witnessed five years ago." The House Legislative People of Color and Indigenous Caucus statement "Five years after George Floyd's murder, the POCI Caucus has led transformative criminal justice reforms across Minnesota. From 2021's critical police accountability measures—including no-knock warrant regulations, Community Violence Prevention grants, and landmark legislation like Matthew's and Travis's Laws—to the 2023-2024 'DFL Trifecta' achievements of independent investigations for officer-involved deaths, traffic stop reform, and adding 200 public defenders, we've made significant progress toward justice. While these victories represent meaningful steps forward, our work is far from complete. "The path forward has not been easy. For a time, we had some partnership from Washington particularly with a federal consent decree, but with Trump's return, we face increased hate and bigoted rhetoric that continue to challenge how we connect with our neighbors. "The POCI Caucus remains committed to addressing the root causes of inequity across our state while protecting hard-fought reforms since 2021. Five years after George Floyd's murder, we honor his memory through sustained action, recognizing that true transformation requires both policy change and cultural shift—a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about our systems and institutions." Council President Elliott Payne's statement "Today marks the 5-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. "Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. It's hard to imagine how someone could do this. That's why, at last week's City Council meeting, we recognized 9 minutes and 29 seconds of silence as a time of reflection. "During that time, I thought about everything that has happened these last 5 years. I went back to the day he was murdered and remembered collapsing in my backyard after learning it happened. At that time, I was working in City Hall in the Office of Performance & Innovation (OPI). I thought about how after George Floyd's murder, our team sprang into action, working to create a new mental health response which eventually became our Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR). "I remembered the anguish and heartbreak I felt when I realized the city administration was actively undermining the launch of BCR out of a fear of alternative responses. I remembered how powerless I felt as I watched my former teammates in OPI plea for the administration to change the toxic, racist culture embedded in City Hall. I remembered all the closed sessions I've been in as a Council Member where we had to review case after case of police misconduct, many of them stemming from past victims of Derek Chauvin's abuses, enabled by the city's culture of impunity. "Going through these reflections helps clarify what we've accomplished since then, and how much there is left to do. We've successfully created and expanded BCR, entered into a settlement agreement with MDHR, selected Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA) as our independent monitor, and seen reforms to MPD's trainings and practices as noted in ELEFA's latest report. "Although we have seen progress, we can look at this past year and see how we failed Davis Moturi and Allison Lussier, again exposing firsthand how much our system is still failing Black, Brown, and Indigenous residents in our City and how our work is incomplete. "We also saw the Trump administration seek to end the Federal Consent Decree which, along with the MAGA movement to pardon Derek Chauvin, is an effort to completely erase what happened here. Findings from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) and Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations confirmed what so many in our community already knew: that George Floyd's murder was not just some one-time isolated incident within the Minneapolis Police Department. "The further we get from the day he was murdered, the more many try to sanitize what happened and the impact his murder had on our city and on the entire world. "That's why it's so important to take the time to reflect, remember, and honor what we all collectively went through. Let's also remember how we all collectively responded. This murder happened in broad daylight and we took to the streets to demand justice. And when white supremacists came to our city to cause havoc and sow division, all they did was bring us together. "In the middle of a global pandemic, we reached out to our neighbors and formed neighborhood watch groups to stay up all night and keep each other safe. We worked together to help rebuild our City, literally bringing our own supplies to build each other back up. "When I think about how we can honor George Floyd's life and legacy, I think back to how his murder sparked a never-before-seen movement to fundamentally change policing. We need that again now more than ever to ensure that what happened to George Floyd never happens again in our city."
