By TJ
Apr 15, 2021 10:00 AM
Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) and Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL Winona) at the 2019 Bridge Dedication Ceremony
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KWNO)-State DFL lawmakers are calling for a suspension of budget negotiations to pass additional police reform measures following the shooting of Daunte Wright.
Rep. Gene Pelowski DFL-Winona is opposed to suspending budget talks, saying lawmakers are constitutionally mandated to pass a two-year budget before May 17.
“The work before the legislature has to continue. We have to get a budget done,” said Pelowski.
Sen. Jeremy Miller R-Winona is also against pausing budget discussions. He said the shooting of Daunte Wright was a tragedy that should not have happened, “but the reality is the legislature last year passed sweeping, bipartisan law enforcement reforms that are still in the process of being implemented,” Miller said.
Minnesota Lawmakers Reintroduce Recreational Cannabis Legalization Bill Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Minnesota is back with their legislative push to legalize recreational cannabis this year, hoping to follow in the footsteps of many of their neighbors.
“The ability for Minnesotans to drive across the border to get cannabis is going to increase significantly,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “People are willing to drive to Wisconsin in order to buy fireworks. They’re sure as heck going to drive to South Dakota to get cannabis.”
However, while democrats and cannabis advocates keep pushing, and 51 percent of registered voters in the state support legal cannabis, the republicans, who control the Senate in Minnesota, are mainly anti-cannabis.
Relph is the first Minnesota lawmaker whose death is linked to COVID-19.
Written By:
Brian Bakst and Kirsti Marohn / Minnesota Public Radio | 11:01 pm, Dec. 18, 2020 ×
Minnesota Sen. Jerry Relph, R-St. Cloud, in 2017. Relph, a first-term state senator from St. Cloud, died Friday, Dec. 18, of complications of COVID-19. Laura Yuen / MPR News 2017
Jerry Relph, a first-term state senator from St. Cloud, died Friday of complications of COVID-19, his family and the Senate majority leader confirmed.
“Jerry dedicated his life to service, and representing Senate District 14 was one of the highest honors he had,” his wife, Pegi Broker-Relph, said in a statement released Friday night. “I can’t count the number of times he would come home at night and tell me about helping solve a constituent’s problem, or a story he heard from someone in a parade or at a public event, or even just someone he met during a ‘day on the hill’ event. He loved serving the people of St.
GOP Sen. Jerry Relph dies of COVID-19 complications
He was one of several GOP lawmakers infected in an outbreak shortly after the election.
Author:
Minnesota State Sen. Jerry Relph has died from COVID-19 complications.
The 76-year-old who represents St. Cloud had been hospitalization since testing positive for the virus in November.
He was one of several Republican senators who tested positive for the virus in the days after the party held a caucus meeting and a post-election dinner party on Nov. 5. An estimated 100-150 people attended the party, many of whom were reportedly not wearing face masks.
Among the others who tested positive in the days that followed was Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka.