Gun Violence and Constituent Visits: Latz Week in Review

Editor’s Note: The following legislative update comes from the office of Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 46).

Hello Everyone,

Policy committees are starting to hear bills as the finance committees are going through the Governor’s budget. Judiciary is one of the few committees (there are only 3) that are both policy and finance so we will have a very full and busy agenda. On the floor we ratified the State employee contracts and had a few more Commissioner confirmations.

I have introduced the Prosecutor’s Package, a bill that will curb gun violence in our communities. S.F. 235 is a bi-partisan piece of legislation that has wide ranging support from the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and MPPOA. The House companion was heard this week (H.F. 285) and had supportive overtures from house members on the House Public Safety Committee as well as where Rep. Uglem called it a “common-sense approach”. Nellie Stone Johnson was a very influential civil rights and labor leader and I was proud to introduce S.F. 185 which would appropriate funds for a statue in her honor. Nellie was the first black person elected to citywide office in Minneapolis and had an important relationship with my father, former Representative Bob Latz. In fact, play celebrating her life is showing at the Minnesota History Theatre and I encourage everyone to attend.

Last week I had constituents visit from a number of groups that were here for their “day on the hill”. The groups included: Alzheimers Association, Minnesota CPA, Firefighters Association, Minnesota Bankers and Microsoft Day. I also had the pleasure of meeting with students from the Hopkins Alternative Program and with a group of parents from the Wayzata Schools Legislative Action Coalition.