Dear neighbors, My thoughts are with the people of Ukraine as we watch the unlawful invasion led by Vladimir Putin. I was moved by the speech that my colleague Rep. Frank Hornstein gave about this last night. You can watch it here. Supporting Frontline WorkersHouse DFLers passed a bill to support frontline workers yesterday. Health care workers, first responders, long-term care and home care workers, school staff, and other frontline workers have kept our state running during the pandemic while facing increased risks of exposure to COVID-19. All of them deserve to be compensated for their sacrifices and hard work. HF 2900, the bill we passed yesterday, invests $1 billion in premium pay for frontline workers. It contains enough funding to deliver bonus checks to more than 667,000 Minnesotans!  New OLA Report Released The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released a report on the state’s oversight of ambulance services this morning. After reviewing the management of more than 250 ambulance services, the OLA determined that oversight from the state was insufficient. The agency also found that the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) was ineffective and that the geographic allocation of ambulance services needed reform. You can read the new report here. If you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share with me, you can reach me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or (651) 296-6828. Sincerely, Rick Hansen
State Representative |