Legislative Update - July 2, 2020

Dear Neighbors, 

Almost three years to the day, Alec Smith lost his life because he couldn't afford his insulin. Now, the lifesaving law that bears his name has gone into effect, after a courageous fight from his parents Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt, and many others.

On the eve of Alec's Law being implemented in Minnesota, we learned that Big Pharma is suing the state of Minnesota to stop it. This was an action that blindsided lawakers across the political spectrum, especially after numerous chances to give public testimony, and countless hours of negotiations. With this lawsuit, they attempt to take insulin away from people who cannot afford a drug they need to survive.

Big Pharma's lack of morality is killing people, but insulin advocates have won these “David vs. Goliath” battles before, and they’ll do it again. We will prevail in this fight for justice over unbridled greed.

I joined Governor Walz, Alec’s parents, and other advocates to remark on the implementation of Alec’s Law, and share information on the resources that are now available to Minneotans. You can watch my comments here. Never again should a Minnesotan die because they cannot afford their life-saving insulin. To learn more about the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, and how to access affordable insulin, visit MNinsulin.org for more information.

In Other News

In addition to the creation of Minnesota’s new insulin safety net, several other laws went into effect yesterday, including the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, another measure aimed at holding drug manufacturers accountable and driving down medication prices by shining a light on this process. 

The Minnesota Legislature is also preparing for the highly likely scenario of another special session after the holiday. The COVID-19 pandemic continues, as does our legislative efforts to ensure Minnesotans have the resources they need to make it through this pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. Police accountability measures also continue to be a priority, as this is another issue that can’t afford to wait for action until 2021. The legislature can only be called into special session by Governor Walz, but it’ll be up to us in the legislature to decide what we do with that time, and when it will end. 

To stay up to date with what’s going on at the legislature, you can follow along on my State Representative Facebook Page, and feel free to reach out with any questions or comments you may have. 

Have a safe and healthy 4th of July!

In partnership,

Michael Howard