Sen. Latz Week in Review: Unheard Bills

[The following news release comes from the office of Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44)]

 

The Senate spent every day on the floor this week, but did not get through as many of the General Orders list as I would have expected to. General Orders are compromised of bills that have made it through committee process and are ready to be heard before the full Senate. Personally, I have one bill on this list that passed committee unanimously, has bi-partisan support and will help stream-line business filings. I have requested, multiple times, to have it heard on the Senate floor to no avail and other DFL chief authors are having the same problem.

Currently, there are 127 bills on General Orders remaining to be heard and then matched up with their House companions. I am coordinating an effort to get the DFL bills heard. If the House bill matches, the piece of legislation is sent to the Governor; if not, there needs to be a conference committee to find agreement on language and then sent back to both the House and the Senate before it reaches the Governor’s desk.

On Wednesday I had special guests in the Senate gallery, my parents. The debate on the final passage of the Voter ID constitutional amendment was of particular interest to my father, who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1959-1967. The outcome of the 3+ hours of debate was a 35-29 vote to pass the bill and now it will go straight to the voters on this November’s ballot. All but one Republican voted for the bill while all of the members of the DFL voted against it. During no time in the history of our State have we had a constitutional amendment pass both chambers without bi-partisan support. A proposal by only one political party to change our State constitution is now headed to the voters.

I also have on the Consent Calendar a bill that the City of Hopkins prosecutor brought to me regarding enhancing a domestic violence charge. The Consent Calendar contains bills that come straight from committee that are expected to pass on a quick voice vote with no floor debate. By and large they are very non-controversial and have very strong bi-partisan support.

General Orders are not the only items that still need to be done before adjournment. The full Senate has yet to hear the bonding bill as well as the omnibus bills pertaining to higher education, transportation or environment. I am also waiting for a conference committee to be scheduled for the omnibus liquor bill. This bill has two provisions that Rep. Steve Simon and I worked on that were brought to us by Jason Alvey, owner of St. Louis Park’s Four Firkins. I am hoping that there will be enough time remaining this session to have this bill land on the Governor’s desk.

This week there was a rally day for those with disabilities. Unfortunately, I was stuck on the floor debating the final passage of the Voter ID constitutional amendment and was unable to meet with the groups Opportunity Partners and Partnership Resources. I hope to reschedule meetings with these groups in the near future. Next week, we are on Spring Recess. Please continue to e-mail, write or phone me regarding your issues and concerns.