Friends and neighbors, We’re now well into the legislative session, and the work is picking up! While we get to work for you, I want to make sure I get to hear from you along the way, so I want to extend an invitation to my next community conversation on Wednesday, March 27th at Atonement Lutheran Church. I hope to see you there! You can RSVP on Facebook now. RSVP is encouraged, but not required. This is a non-partisan event, and all residents of District 51B are welcome.  Putting Guardrails on Online Program ManagersThis week, my bill to regulate online program managers was heard in the Higher Education Committee. OPMs are for-profit businesses that often contract with colleges and universities to help with a host of services from recruitment to curriculum. These companies can be a great help when used correctly, but often times charge high rates for insufficient work. This bill would introduce some guardrails to ensure university dollars are being well used on OPMs, rather than high rates returning little benefit while passing along the cost to students. Jenn Chernega, President of the Winona State University Faculty Association, joined us to testify in support of the bill. This is a high priority of the committee, and I’m looking forward to seeing it advance. Addressing Worker ExploitationI was proud to join advocates and LIUNA Minnesota & North Dakota and North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters members last week to bring light to the issue of worker exploitation and abuse in publicly-funded development projects. My bill will attach prevailing wage protections to developments that rely on Tax Increment Financing (TIF). When used well, TIF can be a powerful tool to generate development and redevelopment where they are most needed. Our communities need tools like TIF to encourage economic development, but that should not come at the expense of workers’ livelihood or their lives.  Supporting School-age Care for PreschoolersUnder current law, a school district may offer a school-age care program for children in kindergarten through grade six, often funded through local levy, but cannot do the same for younger children. That’s why I introduced a bill to ensure resources are available to programs that serve preschoolers by expanding the age range to include students in preschool. The bill also increases the equalizing factor so that, on a statewide basis, the increase in revenue is paid for in state aid. This will help make sure the resources are there for students and families who use these programs. Budget Forecast Shows Minnesota is on the Right PathAt the end of February, state budget officials released a new economic forecast showing Minnesota’s economy is growing and our long-term budget outlook is stable. We are also in a strong position to weather unforeseen challenges down the road. Corporate profits are soaring, but many working families still face challenges. Our historic 2023 budget began to tackle the rising cost of childcare, health care, and housing. Throughout the 2024 session, House DFL lawmakers will continue working with our neighbors and community members – rooted in the values we all share – to lower the cost of living and deliver economic security for working families. We are growing the middle class through jobs with good pay, benefits, and working conditions so Minnesotans can build better lives. Our economic outlook is a testament to the strength and resiliency of Minnesotans, and we will continue to manage our state’s finances in an effective, responsible manner while being responsive to challenges facing people and communities across the state. |