Greetings from the Capitol,
Conference committees have been meeting for one week. However, Governor Dayton has yet to get involved. It is imperative that he now begins to get involved in the negotiating process in order to ensure a successful session.
Town Hall Tonight:
Rep. Paul Anderson (Chair, Agriculture Policy Committee), Rep. Tim Miller (Vice-Chair, Agriculture Finance Committee), and I (Vice-Chair, Agriculture Policy Committee) will be hosting a town hall tonight to discuss agricultural issues. The event will be held at the Herman Community Center (416 Atlantic Ave. S. Herman) at 6:00 PM. I hope to see you there!
Legislation Passed House:
The House passed bipartisan legislation this week that would prohibit funding for abortions from state sponsored health programs administered by the Department of Human Services, except in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother’s life is endangered. This policy is already in place at the federal level and in 33 other states; it is time that we adopt this same practice in Minnesota. The House also passed bipartisan legislation which would require abortion facilities that perform ten or more abortions each month to be licensed and regulated by the Department of Health, as well as meet a set of standards established by evidence-based clinical research. I hope Governor Dayton realizes that these bills are supported by the majority of Minnesotans and need to be signed into law if they pass the Senate.
On a different note, the House passed legislation on Thursday known as McKenna’s Law. The bill is called McKenna’s law because of a brave 12 year old girl named McKenna Ahrenholz and her siblings who were abused and neglected by their parents and guardians. McKenna sought to find legal counsel who could represent her and her siblings, but struggled in doing so. This bill would help ensure that children who are 10 years of age or older in foster care are informed of their right to counsel in juvenile proceedings. McKenna shared a very powerful story, and as a result, she is able to improve the foster care system for all children. I felt honored to take a picture with her and her siblings.
Staying in Touch:
Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government. I can be reached by phone at either 651-296-4929, 701-361-1909, or via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
