Dear Neighbors,
Finance committees are wrapping up their budget bills. With less than eight weeks to go, much of our focus will be on aligning House and Senate proposals. 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 stories of Minnesotans he knows and has recently met, including small business owners, working families, veterans, and more. The Governor encouraged the divided legislature to come together to deliver bipartisan results for the communities we represent across the state.
The Star Tribune’s coverage of the address is here. Or if you are interested in watching the full speech, it is available here. |
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| State Auditor Julie Blaha |
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Supporting Our Students: New Higher Education Budget Freezes Tuition for Minnesota Students
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On Thursday, the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 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. This is not just a student crisis, but a family crisis.
A fact sheet with more information about the budget is available for download here.
With college costs being too much of a financial burden, students need support. Although tuition is already very high, this is a great start to make college more affordable for students. I'm proud of our House Higher Ed Committee for funding a tuition freeze for our students.
New Health and Human Services Budget
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On Wednesday, several of my colleagues announced a new Health and Human Services Budget. As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, this is the culmination of much of the work we have done throughout the session. It is a package of many bills that our committee has heard and discussed, and I am glad we are working to make health care more affordable for Minnesotans across the state. The bill strengthens health care for all Minnesotans by lowering the cost of care, making drug prices more affordable by holding Big Pharma accountable, addressing health disparities, improving health care for women, and expanding coverage options for Minnesotans.
For specific details on the components of the bill, you can read this document.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to call, write, and send emails. I appreciate hearing from you and value your input!
Sincerely,
Robert Bierman
State Representative |
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