Dear Neighbors,
Less than eight weeks remain in the 2019 legislative session. Here’s an update from the Capitol:
Governor’s State of the State Address
On Wednesday, April 3 Governor Tim Walz delivered his first-ever State of the State Address. Speaking on the floor of the Minnesota House Chamber, Gov. Walz played the role of storyteller and shared the hopes, dreams, and challenges of our neighbors and communities across Minnesota. He told specific personal stories of Minnesotans that he knows and has recently met, including small business owners, working families, veterans, and more.
I was pleased to have Taylor Winkel, a constituent from Maple Grove as my guest for the event. |
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The Star Tribune’s coverage of the address is here. Or if you are interested in watching the full speech, it is available here.
I continue to be inspired by the stories of from our community members in Maple Grove and Osseo. |
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| Equal Rights Amendment Advocates |
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New Health and Human Services Budget
The House Majority on Wednesday, April 3 announced a new Health and Human Services Budget. It strengthens health care for all Minnesotans by lowering the cost of care, making drug prices more affordable, addressing health disparities, improving health care for women, and expanding coverage options for Minnesotans. I’m pleased to share that my bills to reduce the costs of prescription drugs have been incorporated into the final budget bill. Putting consumers and patients back in the driver’s seat and money back in your pocket continues to be my commitment to you. It is always about putting people and families first.
For specific detail on the components of the bill, you can read this document.
At a Capitol news conference announcing the budget, HHS Finance Division Chair Rep. Tina Liebling of Rochester said that Minnesotans should be able to count on receiving quality health care at a price they can afford, but the deck has been stacked against Minnesotans in favor of insurance companies and pharmaceutical middlemen. “This bill will help keep Minnesota a leader in health care by putting patients ahead of profits. It offers solutions to reduce costs, expand coverage, and improve the health of all Minnesotans,” said Liebling.
New Higher Education Budget Freezes Tuition for Minnesota Students
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The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee on Thursday, April 4 announced a new budget that puts students first by making college more affordable, reducing debt, and improving health and safety on campus. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are 775,000 Minnesotans with student debt totaling $27.1 billion.
A fact sheet with more information about the budget is available for download here.
Osseo Area Schools
This week, our school district had a lot of well-deserved coverage in the news. First, it earned the 2019 Best Communities for Music Education honor. Congrats to our students and staff who make this possible! View story here.
Additionally, there was a story on our great art programs and the ceramics that students made for a Minneapolis exhibit. As a lover of the arts, I could not be prouder of the art students in our community! Watch video coverage here.
Keep in Touch
Our remaining weeks will be dedicated to finding compromise with the Senate. As always I will work diligently to put money back in your pockets through common sense measures that put people and families first. Please keep in touch with your feedback and input. I appreciate hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Kristin Bahner
State Representative
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