Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flannagan Proposed Budget Continued From Page 3

First Program and Domestic and Sexual Violence Transitional Housing funding to better meet the unique housing needs of survivors.

Reduce Gun Violence and Keep Communities Safe

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor recommend spending $300 million in public safety aid to cities, counties, and tribal governments across the state, enabling local governments to meet their community’s public safety needs. To reduce gun violence across the state, the One Minnesota Budgets proposes universal background checks on all firearm sales, extreme risk protection orders to help remove firearms from those who pose an immediate threat to themselves or others, raising the minimum age for purchasing military-style firearms to 21 years old, banning high-capacity magazines, and promoting safe storage of firearms. Increased violent crime is a threat to thriving communities across Minnesota. Governor Walz and Lieutenant

Governor Flanagan propose the Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, a new statewide initiative to address violent crime. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan also propose $4.5million up front and $1.5 million ongoing for grants to help local agencies purchase body cameras.

Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan propose investing $1 million each year to support firefighter training and education and increasing the funding formula for the Fire Safety Account to ensure local fire agencies across the state will have sustainable resources to support their critical work.

Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s budget establishes the Office of Missing and Murdered Afri- can American Women to promote the safety and success of Black women and girls, through training, advocating for systems change, and ending violence against and trafficking of Black women and girls.

Build a Fair and Equitable Justice System Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan recognize that meaningful rehabilitation for people who are incarcerated reduces their risk of reoffending upon release. The One Minnesota budget proposes the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act to create incentives for people in the custody of the Department of Corrections to participate in and make progress toward individualized treatment plans to help them return successfully to their communities. To address the chronic shortage of education opportunities inside Minnesota’s prisons, the One Minnesota Budget includes opportunities for robust educational programming for every willing participant committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections. Minnesotans from across the state shared their support for Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s plan to protect Minnesotans’ health and safety:

“We are grateful for the investments being proposed by this administration to improve the health and wellbeing of all Minnesotans,” said Elizabeth A. Rogers, MD, MAS, Board Secretary of Minnesota Doctors for Health Equity.

“Longstanding structural racism and systemic inequities that have driven disparate outcomes in the state require comprehensive changes and meaningful solutions. Investing in building our healthcare systems and society in a way that centers health equity is an im- portant step toward tangible change.”

“The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians supports Gov. Walz’s increased investment in primary care services. If Minnesotans want to control health care costs, ensuring access to affordable, primary care services is critical. Removing financial barriers for patients to access primary care promotes prevention and the management of acute and chronic conditions in the most const effective manner,” said Dr. Alex Vosooney, President of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians.

“We’re grateful to see Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan continue their leadership on establishing a MinnesotaCare public option,” said Gary Wertish, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President. “For too long, farmers and other entrepreneurs and small business owners have faced unaffordable health insurance costs, which limits rural economic vitality. We’ve been advocating for this common-sense proposal for years and believe this is the year to get it done.”

“Minnesota’s housing shortages are creating adverse outcomes for individuals and families across the state and are hindering full pandemic recovery and economic expansion. Minnesota counties continue to rank housing shortages as one of the most urgent problems facing their communities. As such, counties recognize that now is the time for bold action. The Association of Minnesota Counties is grateful for Governor Walz’s proposal to place significant state resources across the housing spectrum—emergency shelter, supportive, transitional, affordable and workforce housing—that will lead to better outcomes and continue moving Minnesota forward,”said Associa- tion of Minnesota Counties President and Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire.

“I applaud the investments that the One Minnesota budget makes to address homelessness, make rents more affordable, build homes, and create pathways to homeownership for people in every corner of Minnesota. Everyone should have a safe, accessible, dignified place to call home and these investments will help move Minnesota closer to this reality,” said Rhonda Otteson, Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.

“Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s housing package is the largest investment in housing and homelessness in state history and addresses the urgent and widespread housing needs of all Minnesotans. By providing resources to local government, Tribal Nations, and nonprofit organizations, this budget will increase the amount and affordability of housing, as well as make sure housing is accessible to everyone. It is focused on preventing homelessness whenever possible and providing the kinds of services and supports people need to find and keep their housing. With this budget, we can finish the job of ending veteran homelessness and ensure children and youth have a safe, stable place to call home,” said Cathy ten Broeke, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness.

“I thank Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, and their Administration for proposing an historic investment to disrupt trends in homelessness for youth, adults, veterans and families. Demand for daytime and overnight emergency services is surging, and the Walz Administration recognizes that public funding has been and remains woefully inadequate to support dayto-day operating costs. The impacts of the pandemic, inflation and workforce shortages are escalating these challenges even more, seriously threatening the financial stability of emergency shelter providers like Catholic Charities that serve as the State’s safety net. Immediate and significant investments in Minnesota’s Emergency Services Program and Homeless Youth Act are critical for stabilizing emergency shelter and day services operations as we work to meet the rapidly increasing and complex needs of Minnesotans most in need— because homelessness has no boundaries, and neither should our response,” said Michael Goar, CEO, Catholic Charities Twin Cities.

“Substance use disorder is a public health crisis that has impacted every community across Minnesota. I am thankful for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s continued investments to combat this epidemic. Through expanding access to prevention and supportive services and making investments to disproportionately impacted communities, this budget will go a long way to providing the support that Minnesotans urgently need,” said Jeremy Drucker, Addiction and Recovery Director.

“African Americans, American Indians, and people with disabilities face more health inequities than their counterparts. Focused efforts in building capacity towards change are needed now, more than ever,” said Tim Beebe, PhD, Interim Dean and Mayo Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.“The Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s proposed plans and programs to improve African American and American Indian health, coordinate culturally-centered public health messaging, and create critical infrastructure to alleviate disability-related health disparities will help ensure that health is a right that can be enjoyed by ALL Minnesotans.”

“The Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers supports the funding for the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account and looks forward to working with Homeland Security & Emergency Management to have the funds to assist recovery from disasters throughout the state of Minnesota,”said the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers President Blain Johnson.

“This proposal would help bolster our comprehensive approach to community safety in Minneapolis,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s flexible plan recognizes that immediate safety needs vary city by city, and county by county. In Minneapolis, we will continue to prioritize police officer and 911 recruitment and retention, expansion of our violence prevention programs, and support for mental health response services. We appreciate this partnership and look forward to the work ahead.”

“Gun violence in all its forms continues to devastate families and communities across the country and right here in Minnesota,” said Kathleen Anderson, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We thank Governor Walz for prioritizing gun violence prevention measures in the One Minnesota Budget package. Guns are the number one killer of children across the nation. We look forward to continuing working with the Governor in the fight against the gun violence epidemic. tives are proven means of reducing gun violence.”

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Your newspaper has agreed to participate in the Minnesota Display Ad Network program by running these ads in the main news section of your newspaper (not the classified section of your newspaper). At times, advertisers may request a specific section. However, the decision is ultimately up to each newspaper. Ads may need to be decreased/increased slightly in size to fit your column sizes. Please do not bill for these ads. If you have questions, please call MNA at 800/279-2979. Thank you.

newspaper has agreed to participate in the Minnesota Display Ad Network program by running ads in the main news section of your newspaper (not the classified section of your newspaAt times, advertisers may request a specific section. However, the decision is ultimately up to newspaper. Ads may need to be decreased/increased slightly in size to fit your column sizes. do not bill for these ads. If you have questions, please call MNA at 800/279-2979. Thank you.

newspaper has agreed to participate in the Minnesota Display Ad Network program by running ads in the main news section of your newspaper (not the classified section of your newspaAt times, advertisers may request a specific section. However, the decision is ultimately up to newspaper. Ads may need to be decreased/increased slightly in size to fit your column sizes. do not bill for these ads. If you have questions, please call MNA at 800/279-2979. Thank you.

Your newspaper has agreed to participate in the Minnesota Display Ad Network program by running these ads in the main news section of your newspaper (not the classified section of your newspaper). At times, advertisers may request a specific section. However, the decision is ultimately up to each newspaper. Ads may need to be decreased/increased slightly in size to fit your column sizes. Please do not bill for

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