The legislative team at Flaherty & Hood coordinated and staffed the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) Legislative Action Day on March 2.
The CGMC’s annual lobbying event was a huge success, with more than 100 city officials and business leaders from over 40 cities in attendance.
The day kicked off with a welcome from CGMC President and Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian, followed by a redistricting analysis presentation from F&H Policy Analyst Ania McDonnell and Shareholder Attorney & Senior Lobbyist Bradley Peterson. After, attendees were given a legislative update and in-depth explanations of the Coalition’s top issues (local government aid, water infrastructure, annexation and land use, housing, child care, and the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program). Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove spoke to members about the statewide workforce shortage in the aftermath of the pandemic. While it is a moment of great challenge for businesses and the state, he shared his optimism that the surplus will be able to fund historic levels of economic development. After lunch, there was a legislative panel discussion featuring Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks), Senate Minority Leader Melisa Lopez Franzen (DFL-Edina), House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), and Representative Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent).
Attendees spent the afternoon meeting with legislators at the Capitol and urging them to support CGMC proposals on child care, water infrastructure, bonding and other issues. In keeping with CGMC tradition, the day was capped off with a legislative reception and dinner at Mancini’s, where a bipartisan mix of more than 40 legislators representing both rural and urban districts mingled with CGMC members over a meal of steak or walleye.
