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Neighbors,
Believe it or not, we’re just two weeks away from “official” spring, which also means the legislative session is getting busier. Here’s an update from the Capitol:
Gun Violence Prevention
Minnesotans have been clear that they want solutions to gun violence. Committees have been going late into the night hearing two bills to address the epidemic of gun violence in our communities. Under current law, background checks aren’t performed when guns change hands between non-licensed dealers. HF 8 would require criminal background checks be performed on all gun sales. These background checks are an effective way to make sure that people with a history of domestic violence or other violent crimes aren’t able to access guns. Evidence shows expanded background checks will save lives, and states which have taken this approach have experienced lower homicide rates, lower firearm suicide rates, and less firearm trafficking.
HF 9 would create “red flag laws,” allowing Minnesotans to petition a court if they see someone is in danger of harming themselves or others. On average, someone in Minnesota commits suicide with a gun every single day, often after showing signs of mental distress or violence. These laws would help save lives and prevent these tragedies.
Arts & Culture
Last week in the Capital Investment Committee I had a hearing on my bill (H.F. 806) to provide funding for the St. Paul playwrights center. The bill would appropriate money to design, renovate, and construct a playwright’s center in St. Paul.
Minimum Wage
It’s not acceptable that, in the wealthiest country in the world a parent or student working full time doesn’t have enough money to care for their family, put themselves through college, or simply go to the doctor. The average CEO makes more than 300X the average worker. By gradually raising the minimum wage to $16/hour we can improve the lives of working families by making them safer, healthier, happier and more productive. I participated in a press conference to discuss the bill I introduced, as well as other measures we can take to eliminate poverty. You can read about our plan here.
I also introduced legislation recently that would:
- Encourage schools to practice alternatives to removing a student from class or dismissing them from school, including positive interventions, support, and alternative education services. When students are immediately dismissed from class it disrupts their own learning and the environment for their peers, setting them further behind.
- Allow seniors and those with disabilities to change or cancel their lease when a medical emergency arises.
- Help Minnesotans pay healthcare costs by allowing them to count out-of-network health expenditures toward their deductible.
Floor Votes
Today we voted unanimously on my bill to end child marriages in Minnesota. It’s a vote to end the exploitation of the most vulnerable Minnesotans. Children who get married are significantly more likely to experience abuse, poverty, adverse physical and mental health outcomes, underage pregnancy, death resulting from childbirth, and to drop out of school. Between 2000 and 2010, 248,000 children were married in the U.S, over 85 percent of which were girls.
We are also in the process of debating an Equal Rights Amendment, a bill to put a question on the November 2020 ballot asking you, and all Minnesotans, to vote on whether our state constitution should be amended to read "equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender."
Late last week the House passed a bill to fix the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS), which has had a high-profile IT problems. Issues with systems of this magnitude are pervasive in the private and public sectors, and cause frustration for Minnesotans when they update vehicle registration, need license plates, tabs, or to change titles. Minnesotans deserve a licensing system that works, that’s efficient, and that gets fixed when it isn’t working. I was glad to bring relief to the crew of incredible, solution driven team with funds to compensate MNLARS employees for keeping things running smoothly.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Kaohly Her |