Ecominds-a Mailing List: Busy week at the Capitol - HIRE Hearing Wed morning, Updates

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

First and foremost, this form MUUSJA partner HIRE MN:

Our bill to guide the $1 billion state bonding package passed the Senate
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee last week!
Its companion bill in the House, House File 3184, now has its first hearing
in State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Committee this week.  We must continue the path towards ensuring our
communities earn a fair share of the jobs created by the bonding bill by
showing up to the next hearing:

**Hearing on Bonding Equity Bill**
State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology, and Elections
Committee
8:30 am
Wednesday, March 17
Rm 200, State Office Building, St. Paul

Every other year, the state legislature passes a major bonding package that
invests hundreds of millions of dollars to construct new projects in our
state. That investment could create hundreds of well paying jobs for
low-income people and people of color. 

HIRE Minnesota has worked with key legislators to introduce HF 3184 that
would:
.       Require bond-funded projects to include plans for a diverse
workforce
.       Require regular reporting to legislative committees about hiring
outcomes for low-income people and people of color
.       Require building projects funded by bonding to calculate, and then
report after completion, on energy saved by the work being done

Please sign up online to let us know you'll be there:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/393/personal2.asp?formid=meet&c=8433276

Thank you!
Jeff Bauer 
HIRE Minnesota member 
Family and Children's Service, Director of Public Policy

---

If you live in Rep. Kahn's district in Minneapolis (59B), and can juggle
your schedule to be available *tomorrow* at 11 am, HIRE is meeting with the
Representative to discuss the Wed afternoon hearing.  One or two in-district
folks from EcoMinds would be a great addition to the meeting.  Contact Ralph
ASAP at 612-998-6624 if you can be there!  We'll pre-meet about 15 minutes
before the 11 am appt.

Also, we're meeting with Rep. Phillip Sterner (37B, Apple Valley/Rosemount)
at 2:15 pm tomorrow - so if you live in his district, again, we'd really
welcome your participation.  Call Ralph (612-998-6624).

---

We received some questions today about HF3582 (Seifert) "2025 renewable
energy standards abolished"

I checked in with Fresh Energy, and they are prepared to testify if needed
on this bill.  It appears to not have any additional sponsors beyond
Seifert, but has been scheduled for a hearing.  The hearing is now Wed, Mar
17, 2:45 pm in the basement hearing room of the State Office Building.
MUUSJA will be there, but this bill is not a priority relative to the HIRE
bill in the morning - we don't think it has much of a chance at all to
become law.

If you can attend any hearing on Wednesday, come to the HIRE bill first - at
8:30 am!