Legislative Statements & Testimony

Dear State Leaders (Gov. Tim Walz & Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Senator Paul Gazelka - Majority Leader, and Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman):

Peace be with you.  As you continue your negotiations toward a special session, we write to highlight some important legislative proposals that should be passed this year that will uphold human dignity and promote the common good.

The Catholic Church advocates for public policies that show a “preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.”  In other words, politics—the great conversation about how we order our life together—should focus first on meeting the needs of the least of those among us (cf. Matthew 25).  There are many important matters being debated this year, but we hope that you will give the following items special consideration in your negotiations.

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Dear Members of the State Government Finance Conference Committee:

The Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice for the Catholic Church in Minnesota, writes to ask that you support the “Restore the Vote” language from the House Omnibus State Government Finance bill (HF 1935) and include it in the conference committee report.

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Nonpublic Education Partners is a coalition of organizations who have come together to advance a unified legislative agenda for the 2021 Legislative Session in support of nonpublic students in Minnesota.

During the 2021 Legislative Session, we are supporting three legislative initiatives:

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Families across Minnesota should have the opportunity to access the best K-12 education option for their children. Schools where children have the opportunity to excel should be available to all families, regardless of what neighborhoods they live in or what they can afford. We believe that a child's future should not be determined by their ZIP code or by their family's economic situation.

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Our partner organization, MN Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, submit the following letter:

PDF Version

May 6, 2021

Dear members of the HF2128 Health and Human Services conference committee:

The Minnesota Alliance for Ethical Healthcare is a coalition of 60 organizations including health care providers, disability advocates, mental health experts, faith communities, and veterans’ organizations. We are committed to ensuring better healthcare throughout life's journey, and we advocate for compassionate alternatives to the legalization of assisted suicide.

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The Honorable Frank Hornstein, Chair
Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
545 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

The Honorable Scott J. Newman, Chair
Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 3105
St. Paul, MN 55155

RE: Minnesota Catholic Conference requests adoption of House positions on Driver’s License Eligibility and Suspension Reform in HF1684-3

Chair Newman, Chair Hornstein, and Members of the Conference Committee,

As the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, one of the core missions of the Minnesota Catholic Conference is working with political and community leaders to shape legislation that serves human dignity and the common good. We understand that a conference committee’s work is not easy, and we commend the progress you have made in your first three meetings. As you begin working towards common ground on the weightier aspects of House and Senate proposals, we would like to highlight two provisions that will promote safety on roadways and accountability for drivers while also promoting family stability.  We urge you adopt and include these impactful House positions in your Conference Committee Report:

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VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Dear Members of the Health and Human Services Conference Committee:

The Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice for the Catholic Church in Minnesota, has joined multiple letters on HHS-related matters, but we write specifically to highlight a few additional provisions under consideration in your committee.

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The Honorable Gary Dahms, Chair Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee
2111 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
St. Paul, MN 55155

The Honorable Zack Stephenson, Chair
Commerce Finance and Policy
509 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

RE: Minnesota Catholic Conference requests adoption of Payday Lending Reform language in SF972

Chair Dahms, Chair Stephenson, and Conference Committee Members:

The Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice for the Catholic Church in Minnesota, urges you to adopt the “Payday Lending Reform” language from the House Omnibus State Government Finance bill (Side-by-Side, House Language, Page R38, Line 49.23 to R41, Line 53.3 and Page 43, Line 55.8 to Page R44, Line 56.2) and include it in the conference committee report. The mere presence of a willing lender and willing consumer does not make a good bargain, especially when that lender’s core business model is based on the borrower’s inability to pay. Simply put, it is time to implement morally acceptable payday lending standards in Minnesota.

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