Minnesota Senate Passes Four Bills

Today, the Minnesota Senate convened at 11:00 a.m. and passed four bills.

State Budget Officials Project $2.426 Billion Deficit

Today, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released an interim budget projection. The report states that Minnesota’s budget and economic outlook has significantly worsened since the coronavirus pandemic. A deficit of $2.426 billion is now projected for the current biennium, which is almost a $4 billion change compared to the February forecast. Revenues are expected to be $3.611 billion lower and spending, including appropriations enacted since February, is expected to be $391 million higher. The $2.359 billion budget reserve remains available to mitigate the budgetary impact of the crisis. Given the uncertainty about the path of pandemic, the economic outlook will remain volatile for some time.

Daudt Statement on Bonding Bill

Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) released a statement saying that the legislature will not pass a bonding bill while the governor’s emergency powers remain in effect.

Local 34 Members:

Click here to view/download the May 2020  Newsletter.

In addtion to a message from General President James McCourt, there is important information from Local 34 officers.

Stay safe!

In solidarity,

Sam Schultz

John Hancock has updated their login page for the Union Retirement Plan.

Click here to see their video explanation of this change.

Department of Health Briefing

Officials from the Minnesota Department of Health and other state officials held a conference call with reporter this afternoon to update the public on state efforts responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brothers and Sisters:

You can pick up your face masks at the Local 34 Union building, 95 Empire Drive, St. Paul, tomorrow between 9 and 11 a.m!

Walz Extends Stay Home Order Until May 18

As the state continues to make progress in preparing for the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tim Walz today extended the Stay Home Order in Minnesota until Monday, May 18. In an effort to get more Minnesotans back safely to work while the order remains in effect, the Governor announced that retail businesses and other non-critical businesses will resume operations with curbside pick-up.

Walz, Peterson Address Meat Processing Facility Challenges

Today, Governor Tim Walz, Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and other state and federal officials held a press conference in Worthington to address concerns regarding the impact of COVID-19 on meat processing facilities in southwestern Minnesota. Much of the focus was on the JBS pork processing plant, which recently has seen an outbreak in COVID-19 cases.