Beloved Community,
As we brace for what’s shaping up to be a snowy weekend, this week has been especially busy at the Capitol as we continue working on solutions to make our state work better for everyone. I had a great time meeting with these folks this week:
- MAPE
- LEAN (Lived Experience Advocacy Network)
- Boys and Girls Club
- Economic Development Association
- Leading Age MN
Here’s an update from the Capitol:
Report of Public Safety Aid Spending
The Public Safety Committee recently passed my bill to require reports on how the public safety aid we passed last year is being utilized. With over $300 million in distributed funds it’s important that we know how it’s being spent so we can understand their effect, for better or worse. During the hearing some of my Republican colleagues suggested that public safety agencies should be allowed to use the funds to militarize. We do not need to spend public dollars on tanks for law enforcement. You can watch my response to this misguided suggestion here. This apparently did not sit well with some of my colleagues and led to a bit of an outburst which you can read about here.
Expanding Access to Affordable, High-Quality Health Care
All Minnesotans deserve to live healthy lives with economic security. Unfortunately, too many Minnesotans currently can’t afford health insurance or have health insurance they can’t afford to use. Working families without employer-based insurance often face outrageous premiums and other out-of-pocket costs. This puts Minnesotans in an impossible predicament, which leads to people avoiding care and results in poor health outcomes – sometimes with tragic consequences.
One plan to solve this problem impacting middle-class Minnesotans is the MinnesotaCare Public Option. It would allow all Minnesotans to access comprehensive health insurance coverage – with vision, dental, and more – with low out-of-pocket costs and a large network of quality medical providers. People enrolled in the Public Option would pay their own premiums – with significantly lower prices than what’s available currently on the individual market – determined on a sliding scale based on income.
MinnesotaCare has been a nation-leading, highly successful, and trusted health insurance program serving low-income working Minnesotans for over 30 years. The bill creating a MinnesotaCare Public Option – which would expand affordable health insurance to thousands of more Minnesotans – is advancing through the committee process in the House. There is a great article on how this could benefit Minnesotans, here.
High Demand of Universal School Meals Prompts Legislation to Meet Need
Participation in the universal school meals program has surpassed the initially anticipated increase by more than 20% across the state. To ensure we’re meeting the need and filling this gap, House DFLers approved legislation to continue these investments so no child goes hungry at school.
MPR had a great story about the program that you can read here.
House Approves 101 Environmental Projects
Minnesotans take pride in our legacy of environmental stewardship. That’s why DFLers passed legislation to fund 101 projects across our state that protect our wildlife, water, air, and soil. The funding, which comes from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, uses a portion of our state lottery proceeds to ensure our environment and natural resources are protected for generations to come.
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources is now gathering input about the future of Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund spending and taking feedback about what environmental issues are most important to you. Make your voice heard about how to improve Minnesota's environment & natural resources. Take the survey here.
Keep In Touch
As always, feel free to reach out with any feedback or questions you have for me! I always appreciate working in partnership with you. You can also follow me on my Facebook page.
In solidarity,
Aisha Gomez
651-296-7152
rep.aisha.gomez@house.mn.gov