 Legislative Update -Dear Neighbors and Friends, As we reach the midpoint of our legislative session, the halls of the Capitol are bustling with activity. Committee deadlines are approaching rapidly, and my DFL colleagues and I are working diligently to present and defend policies that Minnesotans have fought hard to establish. As the Legislature moves forward in crafting a new state budget, we will fight to put more power in the hands of Minnesotans, not billionaires and large corporations. The reality of our tied Minnesota House of Representatives means one thing is clear: we must work together to accomplish anything meaningful. This includes our biggest priority—enacting a balanced two-year state budget. While the House budget targets represent a compromise between Democrat and Republican leaders, I remain disappointed with the volume of proposed cuts to our human services programs. I am a disability justice advocate first and always at heart, with an unwavering commitment to protecting our most vulnerable populations from harmful budget reductions, especially as these federal cuts threaten to compound the challenges our community already faces. Thankfully, the DFL team has expertise in the room to ensure impacts are the least harmful possible as we navigate a difficult financial climate and impending federal cuts. While we've seen numerous GOP attempts to repeal policies that Minnesotans fought hard for, now is the time to move beyond partisan goals. We must work collaboratively to ensure no community is left behind. My commitment remains steadfast: to create a Minnesota where opportunity is accessible to all, regardless of zip code or background.  Committee Hearings This week, as critical deadlines approach, I had the opportunity to present my bills to various committees. Here's a brief recap: - Investing in Our Community: Proud to partner with Mayor Krachmer to advocate for state funding for the vital Vadnais Blvd Trail. This project will greatly enhance safety, connectivity, and quality of life for our community. Many thanks to our city partners for their hard work on this proposal!
- Caring for Seniors: Thankful to author and present legislation for local and regional dementia grants which will provide much needed support for our aging population.
- Protecting Child Support: Presented a crucial bill in the Judiciary Committee to address income reporting gaps and ensure children receive the support they need. Thank you to Trish Skophammer for her partnership.
- Securing Our Water Future: My bill to invest $1.5 million in groundwater management, a continuation of the White Bear Lake Area Workgroup I established last year, was heard in the Environment Committee. Protecting our water is essential for all Minnesotans, but especially here in our district where we’ve faced issues like contamination and low lake levels.
 Federal Cuts to MDH The Minnesota Department of Health announced last week that the Trump administration is unilaterally rescinding $226 million in federal grants related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cuts amount to about 25% of MDH’s current budget, according to KARE-11, and are likely to result in the layoffs of around 200 employees. The actions are part of a broader nationwide effort to eliminate $11 billion in spending by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The recent federal funding cuts raise serious concerns about healthcare access for all Minnesotans and may exacerbate existing medical care disparities across our state. These changes could potentially impact essential services including COVID-19 testing capabilities, vaccination programs, and ongoing pandemic research initiatives. I am committed to pursuing solutions through collaboration, advocating for adequate public health funding, and supporting affected employees while ensuring our communities maintain access to vital health services during this challenging transition.  Protect Medicaid, Not Millionaires Act While President Trump and Congressional Republicans look to subsidize tax cuts for the wealthy by reducing federal funding for Medicaid, I am a proud co-author of DFL-backed 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 the press conference here.  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. I want to share some helpful resources with you all on how to spot and avoid scams, and where you can go for help if you or someone you know falls victim to these fraudsters. Remember that it’s important to break down the stigma of embarrassment and report any cases so law enforcement can take any actions possible to try to recover funds or stop future scams. 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.  Stay Connected!Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4342, 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! Sincerely, Brion Curran
State Representative |