Dear neighbors,
Even though there is snow flying through parts of the state, spring is here! At the Capitol, it’s another busy week, with the first committee deadline arriving on Thursday. This means policy bills must be passed by all relevant committees in either the House or the Senate, so agendas this week are lengthy.
Once again, this update will be focused on three distinct topics and messages: Push. Build. Resist.
Push is a proactive policy we’re working to move forward at the Capitol, build is a way we are building bridges between people and groups in Duluth and here in St. Paul, and resist is a way we’re resisting proposals intended to divide us or otherwise harm our communities.
PUSH.
Last week, I had the honor to join Gov. Mark Dayton and other legislators as we announced a bipartisan plan to improve conditions in our state eldercare facilities.
Every senior deserves to live with dignity in a safe and healthy environment. Unfortunately, licensing and regulation of these facilities aren’t adequate, and many seniors have had to live in situations falling well short of this basic standard. AARP Minnesota convened an Elder Abuse Consumer Workgroup which prepared comprehensive recommendations to improve the health and safety of seniors, and to hold bad actors accountable. The Duluth News Tribune published my column about these efforts today.
Yesterday was Alzheimer’s Day at the Capitol, and folks from across the state, including from Duluth, encouraged better care, prevention strategies, and treatment for Minnesotans impacted by this condition. We have to deliver for these seniors and families affected, and make real, meaningful changes this year.
I encourage you to contact House Speaker Kurt Daudt and ask that the AARP elder abuse recommendations be passed this session. He can be reached by phone at 651-296-5364 or rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn.
BUILD.
Every year, local elected officials, representatives from area businesses, and members of the community make a trip to St. Paul for Duluth and St. Louis County at the Capitol Days and this took place last week. It was great to see such a large contingent of Duluthians come down to share their stories and update everyone else how wonderful our region is.
Perhaps the most rewarding part for me was getting to visit with the Denfeld and Duluth East students who made the trip. I could not be more impressed with how thoughtful these young people were, sharing what’s in their hearts and on their minds about issues they encounter. They were crystal clear in their calls to increase investments in our schools, stop bullying, and provide more mental health support for students. They were also unequivocal that bringing more guns into schools isn’t an idea that should move forward.
While down here at the Capitol, I was inspired by the Denfeld students who walked out of class to urge legislative action to prevent gun violence. Today, the House Public Safety Committee again set aside a pair of common-sense bills which would do just that: to require criminal background checks on gun sales, and to enable guns to be temporarily taken away from someone who may pose an immediate danger to themselves or others. I hope students and others in the community continue to loudly raise their voices on this issue.
RESIST.
Last week, Republicans introduced a measure to add a new set of restrictions for those receiving Medical Assistance (MA), Minnesota’s version of Medicaid. MA provides critical health care coverage for people with disabilities, pregnant women, seniors, and low-income Minnesotans making less than about $16,000 per year. A majority of enrollees work.
In Minnesota, we value taking care of one another, and over a number of years, we’ve made progress to reduce the number of people without health insurance. Unfortunately, there have been some proposals, many of them originating with the Trump administration, which contradict this value, and this bill is one of those. Last year, Minnesota’s uninsured rate actually increased. As we know, when people don’t have insurance, that doesn’t mean they don’t get sick. They instead go to the emergency room to get extremely expensive care.
Minnesotans are working hard to build success for their families, but encounter many barriers along the way. Child care remains expensive, many employers don’t offer sick time or paid family leave, and affordably priced housing options are limited. Instead of threatening to take away health care from Minnesotans, let’s work to remove these obstacles instead.