Before the special session adjourned without much accomplished because Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka had declared a time limit, we'd posted MNLEG: Statement from Joel Smith, President and Business Manager of LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, Regarding Special Session.
The labor leader called for:
We urge all state lawmakers to support a robust infrastructure bill that meets our communities’ growing needs, including rebuilding neighborhoods affected by civil unrest, and to take prompt and bold action on criminal justice reform as advocated by Minnesota’s People of Color and Indigenous Legislators.
Senate Republican leadership and Minority Leader Kurt Daudt were having none of the latter point. As state representative Kelly Moller tweeted:
4) The House DFL bill was led by members of the POCI Caucus. Sen. Limmer did not even consult with the POCI Caucus. The Senate majority made an offer that the POCI Caucus members (and others) did not support because it did not do enough.
— Kelly Moller (@KellyForUs) June 21, 2020
And the former point? The bonding bill?
On Saturday, Smith issued this statement:
Saint Paul, MN — Today, LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, Minnesota’s infrastructure union, released the following statement as special session concluded.
Joel Smith, President and Business Manager said, “Adjourning the special session without passing an infrastructure bill is unacceptable. This is a devastating outcome for working Minnesotans.
“We are disappointed Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and the Senate Republican Caucus unnecessarily chose to end without getting the job done. We are profoundly disgusted by Minority Leader Kurt Daudt and the House Republican Caucus for recklessly preventing the creation of 45,000 construction jobs in the last 13 months — at a critical time when we need to meet the need for infrastructure, keep Minnesotans working and stimulate our economy.
“On behalf of more than 28,000 members and family members of LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, we call on Governor Tim Walz to call a special session for the sole purpose of passing a robust infrastructure bill. Minnesota workers and communities deserve nothing less.”
# # #
Chartered in 1968 by the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), LIUNA Minnesota & North Dakota is based in Saint Paul and serves the members, families and retirees of five Local Unions: Local 563 (Minneapolis-Saint Paul Metro, Mankato & Saint Cloud Areas & North Dakota); Local 405 (Rochester & Southeast Minnesota); Local 1091 (Duluth-Superior, Northeast Minnesota & Northwest Wisconsin); Local 1097 (Iron Range & Northern Minnesota); and Local 363 (City & County Employees Union of Minneapolis-Saint Paul & Greater Minnesota).
Perhaps the notion of a single subject special session is all the Republicans can handle. Remote special sessions could happen all summer and the need for extra per diem checks could stimulate the bank accounts of lawmakers all around.
Photo: From the LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota website.
If you appreciate our posts and original analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the paypal subscription button.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen@gmail.com as recipient.
Comments