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Dear Neighbors,
I wanted to share with you a brief update on what is happening at the Legislature this week.
Emergency Insulin Bill Passes
Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, an emergency insulin program accessible to the Minnesotans who need it most. The landmark legislation is named after Alec Smith, who lost his life because he could not afford his insulin. The legislation ensures that Minnesotans have access to affordable insulin if they face an emergency, with insulin manufacturers participating in the solution.
The credit for this legislation goes to Nicole Smith-Holt, James Holt, and the incredible advocates who never stopped fighting to make this day a reality. It’s thanks to the many Minnesotans who shared their stories and shed light on the unnecessary and painful loss of their loved ones due to the high price of insulin. You can read my full statement and more about the legislation here.
COVID-19 Response
The Minnesota Legislature also passed another package of COVID-19 response measures to address COVID-19 daily disruptions to Minnesotans during the pandemic. Measures passed included additional support to help Minnesotans execute wills, allow local governments to meet remotely, suspend certain deadlines and expiration dates, expand use of telemedicine, give the Department of Health authority to set up alternative health care facilities, and more. You can find a copy of the legislation here.
Vote on Efforts to End Governor Walz’s Emergency Authority
During today’s floor session, a couple of House colleagues moved to end the Governor’s declaration of a peacetime emergency. If their motion had been successful, it would have repealed all the executive orders issued by the Governor under his peacetime emergency authority. Not only would the stay at home order have been lifted, but our children would have been expected to go to school tomorrow, our emergency small business loan program would have been ended, etc. I voted against this motion.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for the state of Minnesota. I do not envy the difficult decisions that the Governor has had to make. I think he has handled an incredibly challenging situation remarkably well. In particular, I admire his clear communication, as well as his transparency.
That does not mean I agree with every single decision he has made. In fact, I have expressed concerns to his office, and encouraged him to change course in some cases. In particular, I think that small businesses that can operate safely within MDH's social distancing guidelines, as well as most outdoor businesses, should be allowed to return to work. I have communicated this to the Governor. I was pleased last week when the Governor announced that he would allow many outdoor businesses (landscapers and lawn care) to reopen.This was a good first step, and I hope more will follow.
But the Governor has now issued 25 executive orders to manage the COVID-19 pandemic under his peacetime emergency authority, and the motion would have ended all of them. And while there are some of his executive orders that I would revise, there are many, many more that I think are critical to our ongoing response to the pandemic.
I know that the pandemic is causing great hardship in our community. I have spoken to so many families that have been hurt by the virus. The economic pain people are experiencing is real and I want it to end. I want our economy to reopen as soon as it safely can do so. Today's vote was an all or nothing choice: either we keep the current structure in place or get rid of it all. I think there is a middle road, where we start to reopen what can safely be reopened. That is what I will advocate for. But if I'm forced to choose between all and nothing, I cannot in good conscience choose nothing.
Please contact me anytime on my cell phone at 763-370-9000 or by email at rep.zack.stephenson@house.mn to let me know how I can be of assistance.
It’s an honor to serve our communities at the state legislature.
Sincerely,
Zack Stephenson
State Representative
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