Dear Neighbor,
The House is wrapping up another busy week of the 2022 legislative session and here is a recap of recent developments:
Reinsurance passes House
The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved (106-25) legislation extending the reinsurance program Republicans established in 2017 to stabilize premiums in Minnesota’s individual health insurance market, successfully stemming a wave of double-digit health insurance rate increases.
Minnesota has had a history of being a national leader in health insurance. Unfortunately, some of the good services our state provided were diminished with the implementation of Obamacare and MNsure. Reinsurance has allowed us regain some of what was lost by increasing access to insurance and reducing costs for the people in our state who need it most.
Avian flu
Cases of highly pathogenetic avian flu have been detected in the upper Midwest, including in Minnesota, as farmers are concerned that another avian flu outbreak similar to the one in 2015 could be heading our way.
A reminder, avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk and poultry products remain safe and nutritious for human consumption.
The 2015 outbreak was devastating to the agricultural community. Nine million birds in Minnesota were either killed by the virus or euthanized to slow its spread. In response, the legislature provided significant funds to help deal with the emergency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture instituted numerous biosecurity measures meant to slow the spread of avian flu if another outbreak came to Minnesota. These biosecurity measures have us in a much better place this year compared to 2015.
Here in St. Paul, legislators have been holding weekly calls with MDA and are working proactively with stakeholders to make sure we minimize the impacts of this current outbreak. The Board of Animal Health has set up a website with resources on this matter and I encourage you to visit it to learn more about ways to prevent outbreaks.
New St. Cloud vet center outstation
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs plans to create a veteran center outstation in St. Cloud to provide confidential counseling for eligible veterans and service members, including members of the Minnesota National Guard and Reserves and their families.
Vet center outstations are community-based satellites in leased spaces where at least one full-time counselor can provide services at no cost to the veteran or service member. A spring 2024 opening is targeted for St. Cloud.
The Anoka Vet Center, which will oversee the St. Cloud outstation, includes the nine counties across 7,065 square miles that the outstation will support. Dedicating permanent space and staffing to the St. Cloud community will reduce time or distance barriers for veterans, service members, and their families. Those looking to connect to Vet Center services in the St. Cloud area may schedule telehealth appointments with the Anoka Vet Center or learn more about interim services in the community by calling 763-503-2220.
No fix yet for unnecessary tax increase
Minnesota employers are now seeing increases on their unemployment insurance rates become reality after House Democrats stopped preventative legislation from reaching enactment.
All the House needed to do was to approve the same bipartisan bill the Senate already passed by a veto-proof margin. Instead, House Democrats stopped the bill from coming to the floor for a vote.
Now, unfortunately, we are realizing the consequences of the House majority’s inaction. Given the serious nature of this subject, it was bad advice for some Democrats to suggest to job providers that they “wait and see” on UI tax relief instead of following their prescribed payment schedule. The last thing anyone needs is to incur penalties and have their situation become even more difficult because House Democrats were unable to resolve this issue in time.
Have a good weekend and, as always, your input is welcome.
Sincerely,
Lisa