What could have been a groundbreaking Minnesota police recruitment bill regrettably fell victim to last-minute gridlock at the State Capitol. But the effort may have opened the door to national legislation that would shine a well-deserved spotlight on a Minnesota program called "Pathways to Policing." The program, used at police… Read more »

A Minnesota model to recruit and retain more-diverse law enforcement candidates could soon go national under proposed legislation aimed at beefing up depleted police ranks across the country. U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., is leading a bipartisan push to pass the Pathways to Policing Act — patterned after a six-year-old Minnesota… Read more »

House Democrats appear at odds over a bipartisan measure introduced earlier this year that would provide investments in local police departments across America to ensure officers have the resources needed to keep them and their communities safe.  Led by New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Florida Republican Rep. John Rutherford, the Invest to Protect Act would provide… Read more »

The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University looked at how much lawmakers worked across party lines.    A ranking of congressional bipartisanship in 2021 shows Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar finishing 10th in the Senate, while fellow DFLer Rep. Dean Phillips was 13th in the House.  The findings were published last week by the Lugar… Read more »

The House might vote next week on a small-business pandemic aid package that would provide $42 billion for additional restaurant relief and $13 billion for other “hard hit” industries. The Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on the revised bill Tuesday afternoon, which indicates floor action soon after. Democratic leaders are… Read more »

Two members of Minnesota’s federal legislative delegation visited Brooklyn Park March 19 to celebrate new financing for the Small Business Development and Acceleration Center project, which is being constructed in the Northwind Plaza mall.  Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Dean Phillips spoke in front of the mall, located at the corner of West Broadway and Brooklyn Boulevard, after the… Read more »

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Congress has approved a funding bill that includes funds for a small business incubator planned in Brooklyn Park. The $1.5 trillion House Omnibus Appropriations Funding Package includes a wide range of projects across the country, including funds for infrastructure and public safety. Locally, $1 million was requested for the Brooklyn Park small business center, which will be located at… Read more »

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