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Jamie Becker-Finn

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Jamie Becker-Finn
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 40B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byJason Isaacson
Personal details
Born (1982-10-20) October 20, 1982 (age 42)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseGabe
Children2
Parent
ResidenceRoseville, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (B.A.)
William Mitchell College of Law (J.D.)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Jamie Becker-Finn (born October 20, 1982) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2017. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Becker-Finn represents District 42B in the northeastern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Roseville and Shoreview and parts of Ramsey County, Minnesota.[1][2]

Early life, education, and career

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Becker-Finn was raised in Cass Lake, Minnesota, on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, where she graduated from Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools.[1] Her father, Harold "Skip" Finn, was a Minnesota state senator of Ojibwe and Norwegian descent,[3] and her mother, Teri, is also of Norwegian descent.[4]

Becker-Finn attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She later attended William Mitchell College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor.[1]

Becker-Finn is an assistant attorney for Hennepin County, specializing in domestic violence.[5] She was a legislative assistant for the Minnesota House Tax Committee from 2007 to 2008, a clerk for the Minnesota Fourth District Court in Hennepin County, and a member of the Roseville Parks and Recreation Commission.[1][6][7]

In 2022 Becker-Finn opened Makwa Coffee, a craft coffeeshop in Roseville, Minnesota.[8]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Becker-Finn was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 and has been reelected every two years since. She first ran after two-term DFL incumbent Jason Isaacson announced he would seek election to the Minnesota State Senate.[1]

In 2018, Becker-Finn was an early endorser of Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's 5th congressional district.[9] She served on Attorney General Keith Ellison's transition team.[10]

Becker-Finn has chaired the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee since 2021, and sits on the Public Safety Finance and Policy, Ways and Means, and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committees. From 2019 to 2020, she served as an assistant majority leader for the DFL House Caucus and vice chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee.[1] Becker-Finn is a member of the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus.[11][12] After the 2020 election, she unsuccessfully challenged Ryan Winkler for the role of Majority Leader of the House.[13]

Judiciary and public safety

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After the police murder of George Floyd, Becker-Finn called on the Republican-controlled State Senate to "support meaningful legislation to address systemic racism and police brutality".[14] After the police killing of Daunte Wright, she called for reforms on traffic stop procedure.[15][16] She authored bipartisan legislation that would eliminate driver's license suspensions for minor offenses.[17]

Becker-Finn authored legislation to increase funding for public defenders that passed unanimously in the Minnesota House.[18][19] In the midst of a vote from public defenders to go on strike, she held hearings on the lack of investment in public defenders, criticizing the Board of Public Defense for not asking for more funding in the past.[20][21]

Becker-Finn offered an unsuccessful amendment to a 2017 public safety omnibus bill that would have increased penalties for protesters who block freeways, arguing it is a limit on free speech.[22] She called the city of Minneapolis's backlog of untested rape kits "unacceptable" and pledged to work to get them tested, and authored legislation that would expand the definition of "mandatory reporters" in cases of sexual harassment and assault.[23][24] She has supported restoring the right to vote to felons on parole.[25] Becker-Finn authored legislation mandating gun owners to keep firearms in a locked container when not in use.[26]

Becker-Finn attending listening sessions at women's prisons to discuss issues related to pregnant women and mothers of young children. Minnesota became the first state in the nation to stop separating moms in prison from their babies.[27][28]

Addressing workplace sexual harassment

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In 2017 after multiple reported instances of sexual harassment at the Capitol, Becker-Finn joined then-representative Erin Maye-Quade and then-candidate Lindsey Port in calling for the House to create a task force to address workplace sexual harassment.[29][30] Two legislators, Dan Schoen and Tony Cornish, resigned amid multiple complaints from lobbyists, staff and fellow lawmakers.[31][32] Becker-Finn called for tougher sanctions against sexual harassment, as well as investigations by a neutral third party unconnected to the party in control of the legislature.[33][34]

Environment and natural resources

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Becker-Finn opposed the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline project, a tar sands line that would run through tribal land, saying it "is never going to be my public policy perspective".[35] In 2017, she opposed Republican efforts to remove regulatory requirements for the project, speaking against the provision on the House floor.[36] She later authored a bill to give the Department of Natural Resources more tools to penalize water permit violations.[37]

She has sponsored legislation to increase outdoor education opportunities for Minnesota children and disadvantaged communities, including passing the bipartisan "No Child Left Inside" program.[38][39] She has supported calls to address water contamination by microplastics, lead and salt.[40][41] She co-sponsored a bill that would have imposed a four-year moratorium on new large dairy farms, and a bill to evaluate native "rough" fish populations.[42][43] In 2019, Becker-Finn authored legislation that banned nonessential use of firefighting foam that contains PFAS chemicals due to their health and environmental risks.[44][45]

Chronic wasting disease

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An avid hunter, Becker-Finn has led efforts to address chronic wasting disease in the deer population.[46] She has been a longtime supporter of tougher restriction on Minnesota's deer farms, and has criticized the Board of Animal Health's oversight of the industry.[47][48] She passed a bill requiring owners to euthanize their herd when CWD is found, double-gate their properties, and undergo mandatory inspections to prevent further spread.[49] Her proposals have been largely supported by deer hunters but opposed by lobbyists from the deer farm association.[50] Becker-Finn has also authored other measures, like a state-funded buyout of deer farms, increased fencing, and a deer farm moratorium, that have not passed due to opposition in the Republican Senate.[51][52] She has supported funding research efforts to better understand the disease and develop tests for use in deceased and live deer.[53][54]

Native American issues

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In 2019, Becker-Finn sponsored a measure to rename Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, named after John C. Calhoun, to its Dakota name, Bde Maka Ska. The provision passed the House but not the Senate, and the lake was renamed by the Department of Natural Resources after a court appeals process.[55][56] Becker-Finn has carried many tribe-specific bills, including legislation that requires that when the state sells property within a reservation it must first offer to sell it to the tribe.[57][58] She supported legislation that created a task force on missing and murdered Native women.[59][60]

Becker-Finn has spoken out publicly against offensive Native American depictions such as those in Halloween costumes and professional sports teams mascots.[61][62] She has also criticized the Minnesota state seal, which depicts a Native American being driven away by a settler with a rifle nearby.[63]

Electoral history

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2016 Minnesota State House - District 42B[64]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Jamie Becker-Finn 12,845 56.90
Republican Tracy Nelson 9,688 42.92
Write-in 40 0.18
Total votes 22,573 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 42B[65]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Jamie Becker-Finn (incumbent) 13,042 60.35
Republican Yele-Mis Yang 8,543 39.53
Write-in 25 0.12
Total votes 21,610 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 42B[66]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Jamie Becker-Finn (incumbent) 15,951 61.97
Republican Sue Finney 9,750 37.88
Write-in 38 0.15
Total votes 25,739 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 40B[67]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Jamie Becker-Finn (incumbent) 13,997 67.72
Republican Allen Shen 6,652 32.18
Write-in 20 0.10
Total votes 20,669 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

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Becker-Finn and her husband, Gabe, reside in Roseville, Minnesota. They have two children. Becker-Finn is a descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.[1] She is a lifelong hunter and fisher.[68][69] She is Lutheran.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Becker-Finn, Jamie - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  2. ^ "Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (40B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  3. ^ "Finn, Harold R. "Skip"". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  4. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (March 23, 2017). "Something new for the Minnesota Legislature: a caucus of first Minnesotans". MinnPost. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  5. ^ The Associated Press (January 29, 2019). "MN rep highlights bills against gender-based violence". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  6. ^ Nelson, Todd (January 26, 2017). "Breaking the Ice: Former legislative assistant settles into House". Minnesota Lawyer. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  7. ^ Munzenrider, Mike (February 2, 2016). "Race for MN House District 42B is shaping up". Lillie Suburban Newspapers. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Jackson, Zoë (October 19, 2022). "Twin Cities area sees wave of new coffee shops opened by people of color". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  9. ^ Brodey, Sam (2018-06-08). "The messy primary to replace Rep. Keith Ellison will center on who represents the future of the DFL". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  10. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (November 19, 2018). "AG-elect Ellison announces transition team". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  11. ^ Multiple authors (May 19, 2022). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Find room in the budget deal for communities of color". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  12. ^ Montemayor, Stephen (September 24, 2021). "DFL state lawmakers form new Reproductive Freedom Caucus". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  13. ^ Lopez, Ricardo (November 5, 2020). "DFL State. Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn to run against Majority Leader Winkler for leadership post". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  14. ^ Lopez, Ricardo (June 5, 2020). "Gazelka calls for Gov. Tim Walz to apologize to 'moms out in the suburbs' over George Floyd protests, unrest". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  15. ^ Pugmire, Tim (April 13, 2021). "Senate Republicans will hold hearings on police changes". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  16. ^ Bakst, Brian (April 22, 2021). "MN House panel moves to change police powers". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  17. ^ Janzer, Cinnamon; Winter, Deena (2021-03-02). "Bipartisan effort would end driver's license suspensions for unpaid tickets". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  18. ^ Read, Katy (March 19, 2022). "Minnesota public defenders reach deal to avert strike halting courts". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  19. ^ Aldes, Brian; Reinartz, Chelsea (February 19, 2023). "OPINION EXCHANGE | More work to be done on behalf of public defenders". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  20. ^ Nesterak, Max (2022-03-10). "Public defenders vote to strike; justice system could come to a halt". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  21. ^ Nesterak, Max (April 1, 2022). "Public defenders poised to get $50 million windfall from Legislature". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  22. ^ Andy, Mannix (April 3, 2017). "After testy debate, House passes $2.3B public safety measure". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  23. ^ Jany, Libor (16 November 2019). "Minneapolis police discover 1,700 untested rape kits spanning 30 years". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  24. ^ Hyatt, Kim (12 February 2021). "Legislature considers bill to close mandatory reporting loophole". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  25. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (12 June 2020). "Police reform shadows Minnesota Legislature's special session". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  26. ^ Griffith, Michelle (2023-02-03). "Minnesota House committee furthers four gun control bills". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  27. ^ Sawyer, Liz (October 29, 2019). "Minnesota lawmakers urge changes for moms behind bars". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  28. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (29 May 2021). "Minnesota is first state to stop separating moms in prison and babies". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  29. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick; Bjorhus, Jennifer (November 10, 2017). "Former GOP Speaker says he confronted Rep. Tony Cornish over treatment of women". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  30. ^ MPR News Staff (November 17, 2017). "Women protest sexual harassment at MN Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  31. ^ Scheck, Tom; Bakst, Brian (November 22, 2017). "Resignations put Minnesota Capitol culture on notice". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  32. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (2017-11-08). "Multiple women accuse Minnesota state Senator Dan Schoen of sexual harassment". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  33. ^ MPR News Staff (March 8, 2018). "Report knocks MN House over sex misconduct reviews". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  34. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (2018-02-27). "At the Capitol, Minnesota lawmakers grapple with addressing sexual harassment — at the Capitol". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  35. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (October 15, 2017). "Enbridge pipeline replacement divides DFL". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  36. ^ Pugmire, Tim (April 6, 2017). "MN House adds pipeline plan to energy bill". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  37. ^ Marohn, Kristi (March 25, 2022). "Bill would toughen penalties for water violators". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  38. ^ Bylander, C. B. (May 27, 2021). "Outdoors grant recipients try to empower Minnesotans of different experience levels, colors and ages". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  39. ^ Kennedy, Tony (October 26, 2019). "'No Child Left Inside' grant program opens with a bang". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  40. ^ Kennedy, Tony (January 11, 2020). "CWD, lower walleye limit on agendas at Capitol". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  41. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (15 August 2019). "Minnesota agency asks Water Gremlin to halt some work after new contamination discovered". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  42. ^ Belz, Adam (March 12, 2020). "Moratorium on large dairies proposed at Minnesota Legislature". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  43. ^ Kennedy, Tony (July 14, 2022). "Fresh look at rough fish and their protection builds steam". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  44. ^ Marohn, Kristi (April 3, 2019). "Bill would ban flame-retardant chemicals in Minnesota". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  45. ^ Marohn, Kristi (May 23, 2019). "Flame retardant ban becomes state law". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  46. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2018-11-09). "The DFL will be in control of the Minnesota House. What does that mean for the environment?". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  47. ^ Kennedy, Tony (May 8, 2019). "Dead deer and more CWD found at pay-to-hunt ranch in Crow Wing County". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  48. ^ Kennedy, Tony (April 15, 2021). "CWD reaches a new northern limit with discovery of deer disease in Beltrami County". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  49. ^ Kennedy, Tony (June 1, 2019). "Bigger problems in the wilderness mean bigger spending set by legislators". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  50. ^ Gunderson, Dan (October 29, 2021). "Hunters want more 'urgency' in state's CWD response". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  51. ^ February 12, 2019 (2019-02-12). "Lawmakers propose series of measures to stop march of Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  52. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2019-11-05). "On cusp of deer hunting season, state officials look to save CWD effort from the trash". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  53. ^ Star Tribune Editorial Board (March 29, 2019). "EDITORIAL | U's new effort will help broaden, better coordinate fight to contain chronic wasting disease". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  54. ^ MPR News Staff (February 11, 2019). "MN lawmaker seeks tougher action against deer disease". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  55. ^ Van Oot, Torey; Van Berkel, Jessie (May 23, 2019). "DFL lawmakers yield on Bde Maka Ska, leave the name up to the courts". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  56. ^ Otárola, Miguel (May 13, 2020). "Minnesota DNR can rename Lake Calhoun as Bde Maka Ska, high court rules". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  57. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (June 21, 2019). "Minnesota tribal leaders say Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan live up to campaign promises". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  58. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (November 13, 2021). "Minnesota officials work to mend historically fraught relationship with tribes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  59. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (2018-04-12). "Legislature proposes finding out why a staggering number of Native American women in Minnesota are murdered or go missing". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  60. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (June 27, 2021). "Police accountability advocates disappointed by deal at Capitol". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  61. ^ Ibrahim, Mukhtar (October 28, 2015). "Party City catches flak over Native Halloween costumes". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  62. ^ Brooks, Jennifer (October 26, 2019). "Minnesota schools figured out how to play sports without stereotypes; why can't the NFL?". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  63. ^ Nelson, Tim (April 27, 2022). "Push to change Minnesota state flag gains traction, faces headwinds". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  64. ^ "2016 Results for State Representative District 42B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  65. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 42B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  66. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 42B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  67. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 40B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  68. ^ Anderson, Dennis (March 3, 2019). "Environmental education might be solution to making natural resources relevant". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  69. ^ Kennedy, Tony (November 6, 2020). "Minnesota deer hunting camps will have a different feel in 2020". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
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