Politics & Government
Senate GOP Advance Measure To Cut Minneapolis Local Aid To Pay For Law Enforcement Mutual Aid During Chauvin Trial
A Senate panel approved a politically charged GOP-led bill to cut local government aid to Minneapolis.
February 10, 2021
A Senate panel approved a politically charged GOP-led bill to cut local government aid to Minneapolis, diverting the funding to reimburse law enforcement agencies that assist Minneapolis police during large demonstrations or extraordinary events.
Find out what's happening in Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The measure passed the Senate subcommittee on property taxes on a 3-2 party-line vote and will head to the full Senate Taxes Committee next.
The plan is an alternative to DFL Gov. Tim Walz’s proposal to create a $35 million state fund to reimburse law enforcement agencies that assist Minneapolis police during the upcoming Derek Chauvin trial. Republicans criticized Minneapolis leadership, saying their efforts to defund the police last year makes it unfair for the city to ask for assistance now.
Find out what's happening in Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
State Sen. Bill Weber, R-Luverne, said his bill would encourage law enforcement departments to agree to provide mutual aid because the legislation would “guarantee” they would be compensated.
Walz has already activated the Minnesota National Guard to begin planning for the trial, seeking to prevent any violence or civil unrest.
State Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, criticized the legislation, saying it was “offensive to punish” the city and garnish its tax base to pay for mutual aid support.
Klein backed Walz’s proposal, saying “The best way to support law enforcement is to plan ahead.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo testified on Wednesday that his depleted law enforcement department has struggled since the May 25 killing of George Floyd.
“We’ve become a one-dimensional department,” he said, adding: “I have relied upon mutual aid for many different occurrences, many of those post-May 25.”
He said that until he has more funding and more officers, he would continue to rely on aid from other law enforcement departments.
On Tuesday, Minneapolis sent assistance to Buffalo, where a 67-year-old man shot several people, killing one, at an Allina Health clinic, underscoring the reciprocal relationship between police departments in the state.
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