Greetings from the Capitol!
Last Monday, Governor Dayton fainted while delivering his State of the State address. He then announced the following day that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Given the news, I sent the Governor some gerbera daisies, which are my favorite flowers, to wish him a speedy recovery.
I was amazed by the amount of media attention that surrounded this simple gesture. I believe that we should all practice kindness and never forget that we are all human.
Health Insurance Update and Clarification:
Since the passage of Senate File 1 last week, there have been some developments worth sharing:
- There is a one week enrollment extension from February 1st – February 8th
- Medica, which is only available through MNsure, is below its enrollment cap and will accept new enrollees from January 31st -February 8th
- If you qualify for the 25% premium reduction, no action is required on your end, you will receive it automatically. (In order to qualify, you must have bought the plan on the individual market and not received a federal health insurance tax credit).
Bill Introduction:
I will be introducing a bill next week that would allow sexual assault victims to obtain Orders for Protection (OFP), even if there was no relationship prior. OFP’s have the advantage of no filing fee, as well as all of the protections under the Domestic Abuse act. I believe victims (whether warranted or not) see an OFP as stronger than a harassment restraining order. For victims of sexual assault, it is demeaning to say they are victims of “harassment”, rather than acknowledging that they should be entitled to the full protections of an OFP for victims of domestic abuse.
Legislative Survey
If you would like to take a quick issues survey regarding Sunday liquor sales, fee increases and more: click here!
If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-3201 or rep.mary.franson@house.mn. I would love to hear from you.
I truly represent the best!
Sincerely,
