Protecting our Children and our Climate
Dear Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Rochester legislator town hall last weekend! Rep. Hicks, Rep. Liebling, Sen. Boldon, and I talked about key issues facing the legislature this session including the DFL plan to provide paid family and medical leave to all Minnesotans. I shared my perspective as a small business owner who this bill would help as I try to recruit, retain, and support my staff. If you missed the event, you can read more in the Rochester Post Bulletin’s write-up here or watch the video on Senator Boldon’s Facebook page!
100% Clean Electricity by 2040!
The last eight years globally have been the hottest on record, and Minnesota is among the top states currently seeing rapid changes to our climate. Scientists know climate change driven by fossil fuels impacts our environment, infrastructure, and health. Minnesota has long been a leader in clean energy, but partisan gridlock in recent years has hindered attempts to combat climate change.
This Thursday, the House DFL majority passed the 100% by 2040 bill, a landmark piece of legislation that will help our state address climate change head-on and prepare for a carbon-free future. This legislation would require the state’s utilities to use entirely carbon-free sources for electricity production by 2040. This would put us on track with over 20 other states that have also adopted similar goals.
Not only is this legislation critical to protecting our climate, but it also makes economic sense; we know right now that the cheapest form of electricity is wind and that producing solar energy is cheaper than building new fossil fuel plants or importing fossil fuels from other states. This bill ensures that we remove barriers to setting up carbon-free and renewable power sources and invest in jobs right here in Minnesota. I was proud to cast my vote in support of the 100% by 2040 bill this week on the House floor and will continue working to address and combat climate change this session—This bill is not the end of our work on climate; it is just the beginning!
Banning Conversion “Therapy” in MN
On Tuesday, the House Health Committee heard a bill to ban the use of conversion “therapy” in the state of Minnesota for children and vulnerable adults. It also takes steps to ban dishonest advertising regarding these harmful practices.
The committee heard public testimony, including from many who spread false information and attempted to use their faith as a justification for practices that have been proven to harm children. I was proud to vote in support of the ban and to speak up in committee as a person of faith who believes that our LGBT children are beautiful and deserve to be their authentic selves. You can watch my comments in committee here
Stay Connected!
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov or 800-296-9249, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Warmly,
Andy Smith,
State Representative