Dear Neighbor,
The Minnesota State Capitol is once again buzzing with activity as the 2019 Legislative Session is underway. I’m grateful for the opportunity to again represent the people of Duluth in St. Paul. Working together, I’m optimistic we can deliver positive outcomes for all Minnesotans.
The session started with a new DFL majority in the Minnesota House. I’m honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve as House Majority Whip for the two-year session ahead. This position provides a terrific opportunity to help make progress on ideas rooted in the values we all share. Minnesotans care about one another, and want to see everyone succeed and thrive. From their State Legislature, they should expect nothing less than results that facilitate this success.
Entering our third week of the session I’m maintaining a high level of excitement about what’s possible this session. We recently unveiled the Minnesota Values Agenda, which was our first 10 bills. This series of bills is a result of the Minnesota Values Project which consisted of conversations across the state, listening to Minnesotans’ hopes and dreams along with their anxieties and worries.
Our agenda includes legislation to ensure all students have the opportunity to achieve, including expanded pre-K and student support grants. Minnesotans deserve affordable, quality health care, so we’ve introduced a bill creating the MinnesotaCare Buy-In, and one to stop prescription drug price gouging. To better ensure economic security for families, bills to stop wage theft and enact a framework for paid family and medical leave have been introduced. The Minnesota Values Agenda also includes legislation to keep our communities safe, including common-sense legislation to prevent gun violence. To be clear, this isn’t an exhaustive list of everything we’d like to accomplish this year, but serves as a solid foundation of ideas with which we’re hopeful can move forward.
Every time I enter the State Capitol, I carry a great deal of pride knowing that I come from a community as wonderful as Duluth. Taking on this new leadership role with its duties and responsibilities will also give me an opportunity to share everything that’s great about our community, as well as articulate some of our unique needs, with a broader audience. Specifically, I’ll be working to ensure our street improvement sales tax can get needed legislative approval, and that we can take bipartisan action to address our opioid crisis, which has disproportionally led to too many tragic losses here in northern Minnesota.
150 miles separates the Capitol from Duluth, but there’s no reason for folks to be disconnected from their government. We’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to what’s going on in Saint Paul, and this can take several different forms. I love hearing your ideas and input, so please stay in touch with me and your other elected officials to share what’s on your mind. You can also follow along with the activity at the Capitol through House Public Information Services, which has a variety of nonpartisan resources including streaming video. One more significant piece: we’re committed to the legislative process itself being open and accountable, with significant time for public input. Visit the House website for the latest committee schedules and information on bills being introduced.
I want to thank you for the tremendous honor of serving in the Minnesota House. Representing you is a responsibility I take seriously, so I hope you will share your input with me, and if I can ever be of assistance, don’t hesitate to let me know.
Sincerely,
Liz Olson
State Representative