Neighbors, Minnesota Management and Budget announced a new economic forecast this week showing a $9.25 billion budget surplus for the current biennium, The analysis does not incorporate inflationary costs or the various impacts of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. The budget announcement is positive, but many Minnesota families are still struggling. Instead of tax cuts for the wealthy, I support the House DFL plan to ensure paid family and sick leave, create good jobs to sustain our families, and provide better education and health for everyone. And my priority continues to be pushing to fund clean water projects in the district, including in Mankato, Eagle Lake and Skyline. Investments in our infrastructure ensure healthy and safe communities for all Minnesotans now and in the future. We will use these final numbers to craft legislation this session. You can read more about the announcement on the Minnesota Management and Budget webpage. Legislative Survey Please take a few minutes to complete my legislative survey. Your opinion matters! Committees This week in Behavioral Health and Human Services committees we continued to hear about workforce challenges and the growing need for Minnesotans to get the help they deserve. We heard bills to both tackle immediate needs in the forms of hiring and retention incentives, and information on long term programs to support people who choose the mental health/healthcare fields as a profession. This included tuition reimbursement, grant programs for those who would have challenges securing tuition and increasing apprenticeship opportunities. This week, I also met with local constituents including medical providers, educators, and a student group from MNSU. All brought forward fantastic ideas on how we can improve the lives of all Minnesotans. Thank you all again for the work you’re doing! Here are some bills I’m supporting: HF3465 – Requires insurance coverage of infertility treatment HF3398 – Restricting the use of no-knock warrants. This article in the Mankato Free Press says no knock warrants are “virtually nonexistent” in the Mankato area. Other bills I’m authoring can be found here. March is Women’s History Month Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the significant contributions women in elected office have made to Minnesota. At the Capitol, I work with many amazing women who dedicate themselves to improving Minnesota for everyone.  COVID-19 Update Getting the COVID-19 vaccination and booster can keep you and your family safe. If you’re not feeling well, get tested. You can still order up to 4 free COVID tests for your household. Go to https://www.covidtests.gov/ to get your test kits and many more resources. _________ Stay connected with the Legislature The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here. I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can send an email to rep.luke.frederick@house.mn or can call my legislative assistant, Blake Wilcox, at 651-296-8803. Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature. Sincerely, Luke Frederick State Representative |