Beloved Community,
As we all await warmer and sunnier days, the House has been hard at work as the end of session is just around the corner. We recently came to a bipartisan agreement on spending targets and are wrapping up bill hearings before the tough budget work gets underway. Here is an update from the Capitol.
Whittier Neighborhood Day
Save the date for Whittier Neighborhood Day, Saturday, May 3. What is Whittier Neighborhood Day? This event, hosted by Whittier Alliance, is a chance to...
?? Enjoy delicious FREE food from local Whittier restaurants
?? Take home a cartoon map of Whittier, screen printed live at the event
?? Bring along kids to join free games led by the Children's Theater and learn about free Whittier Rec Center programs
??? Meet your local elected officials
?? Engage with park and street design planners leading work in Whitter
??? Learn about volunteer-led organizing projects and find out how to get involved
??? Enter a raffle to win local business gift cards and Whittier merch
Neighborhood Day will be hosted at Whittier Rec Center on 5/3 from 11am-1pm, full details here. Whittier Neighborhood Day will also serve as Whittier Alliance's annual meeting and board election kickoff.
Know Your Rights
With ICE conducting illegal raids against our immigrant neighbors it's critical that you and your loved ones know their rights. Knowing your rights is power. Knowing our rights is the first step in fighting back against illegal apprehensions. Learn more here.
Protect Medicaid, Not Millionaires
While President Trump and Congressional Republicans look to subsidize tax cuts for the wealthy by reducing federal funding for Medicaid, DFL legislators introduced legislation that would raise taxes on millionaires at the level necessary to offset any cuts to this crucial program. Medicaid is the largest single source of health insurance in Minnesota, serving senior citizens, children, families, and people with disabilities.
A report from Congress’s Joint Economic Committee found that if Republicans in Congress pass their proposed budget and cut Medicaid, Minnesota could see 89,000 rural residents lose their health coverage,130,000 children lose their health insurance, more than 1 in 6 seniors lose their nursing home care and, in total, nearly 400,000 people cut off from their health insurance. If these callous cuts go through without additional revenue raised by Minnesota, it will have a direct and immediate negative effect on health in Minnesota, costing lives and doing harm.
Watch me speak on this issue here.
Small Business Impact Survey
Amid additional federal tariffs taking effect today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is gathering information from affected small businesses in Minnesota.
In this period of uncertainty, there may be a lag in data, so this survey is a way for our local business owners to communicate directly with the department now. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete. By collaborating with Minnesota's locally owned small businesses, which face significant challenges, we can proactively plan for the state's future needs.
Fraud Prevention Resources
Text, email, and social media scams are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent. If you’re like me, you probably have gotten some of these scam texts that say you need to pay a toll or confirm a payment--it's important to be skeptical of such texts. Those E-Z Pass texts are scams, and MnDOT has issued a fraud warning here with resources in case you accidentally click a link.
Attorney General Keith Ellison has some resources on How to Spot a Scam with helpful examples and a list of common scams. If you have concerns about a particular offer or believe you are the victim of a scam, the Attorney General wants to hear from you. You may call at (651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) or (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities), or submit a Consumer Assistance Request Form.
Meanwhile, here at the Legislature, we are working on bills to support the Attorney General’s work cracking down on fraud in the public and private sectors. Some proposals include stiffer penalties on Medicaid fraudsters, a fraud investigation unit within the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, fighting against employer misclassification fraud, and protecting veterans from claim sharks that seek to profit off the benefits they earned in service to our country.
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