Category: SD46

House DFL Majority Announces Health and Human Services Budget

Democrats’ budget lowers costs for Minnesotans, holds Big Pharma accountable, gives doctors and patients more control over care

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Wednesday, April 3 the House DFL Majority announced a new Health and Human Services Budget. The budget strengthens health care for all Minnesotans by lowering the cost of care, making drug prices more affordable by holding Big Pharma accountable, addressing health disparities, improving health care for women, and expanding coverage options for Minnesotans.

A fact sheet with more information is available for download here.

“Minnesotans should be able to count on receiving quality health care at a price they can afford. Unfortunately, the deck has been stacked against Minnesotans in favor of insurance companies, Big Pharma, and pharmaceutical middlemen,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Division. “This bill will help keep Minnesota a leader in health care by putting patients ahead of profits. It offers solutions to reduce costs, expand coverage, and improve the health of all Minnesotans.” Continue reading “House DFL Majority Announces Health and Human Services Budget”

Wednesday at 11: House DFL Majority to Announce Health and Human Services Budget

LeSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Wednesday at 11 a.m., the House DFL Majority is holding a news conference to announce a new Health and Human Services budget.

The House DFL’s HHS proposal budget lowers the cost of health care, addresses rising prescription drug prices, increases the quality of coverage, and gives patients and their doctors more power over their care.

WHAT: News Conference Announcing House Health and Human Services Budget

WHO: Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman; Majority Leader Ryan Winkler; Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Division

WHEN: Wednesday, April 3 at 11 AM

WHERE: Room 181, State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Saint Paul

Tuesday at 9: House DFL Majority to Announce New Transportation Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The House DFL Majority is holding a news conference on Tuesday, April 2 at 9 a.m. in Capitol Room B971 to announce a new transportation budget that fixes our roads, bridges, and transit.

The House DFL transportation budget makes honest investments in Minnesota’s crumbling transportation system that will deliver safety, sustainability, modernization, and economic prosperity. A fact sheet with more details will be distributed at the news conference.

WHO:

  • Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman
  • House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler
  • Chair Frank Hornstein
  • Vice-Chair Brad Tabke

WHEN:  Tuesday, April 2 at 9 AM

WHERE:  Capitol Room B971

Situation in the Minnesota Senate

Minnesota is the only state legislature in the country. Like the GOP controlled U.S. Senate, our Minnesota Senate Speaker is blocking bills from being heard.

Here are the issues that are being stonewalled (Sen. Gazelka is beginning to talk about allowing the gun safety bills to be heard):

Minnesota House DFL to release framework for Minnesota Values Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Minnesota House DFL leaders and legislators will announce committee targets and the framework for the Minnesota Values Budget at 1:00 PM on Monday, March 25th.

WHO: Speaker Melissa Hortman, Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Majority Whip Liz Olson, Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Rep. Paul Marquart

WHAT: Press conference to announce targets and framework for the Minnesota Values Budget

WHERE: Minnesota State Capitol Press Conference Room B971; 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155

WHEN: 1:00 PM, Monday, March 25, 2019

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 22, 2019

CAPITOL UPDATE MARCH 21, 2019

Friday, March 15 marked the halfway point of the 2019 session and the end of first deadline for bills to pass through committee. As of first committee deadline day, over 2,500 bills have been introduced in the Senate and many will not meet the first deadline. The first deadline requires policy bills to have had their first hearing in the committee of origin unless the companion bill in the House has been heard. However, finance, tax, and capital investment bills do not have to meet this deadline.

Unfortunately, the majority-controlled Senate has yet to hear both of the gun violence prevention measures that I introduced with my Senate colleagues in the first weeks of session. It’s been more than a year and a half and the Senate Judiciary committee has yet to give these bills a public hearing. However, because the House has heard both the criminal background check expansion bill and the extreme risk protection orders bill, the bill has met first deadline qualifications and the measures live on.

Below you can click on a mid-session Capitol video update. I highlight a few items in the video, but there of course remains much to do. Continue reading “Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: March 22, 2019”

Minnesota House Expected to Approve Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill Today

SAINT PAUL – The Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to approve the hands-free cell phone bill (House File 50) during today’s floor session. Legislators are taking action in response to victims of distracted driving who want to prevent more deaths.

“Distracted driving fatalities are continually on the rise,” said chief sponsor and Transportation Division Chair Frank Hornstein. “Requiring ‘Hands-free’ mode will deliver common sense safety measures to combat these preventable tragedies.”

Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia have hands-free cell phone laws. According to WCCO’s latest Reality Check, crashes and fatalities on the road decrease when states have hands-free cell phone laws on the books.

“Minnesotans deserve to be safe on our roadways,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “There is clear evidence from other states that these types of laws save lives. We’ve heard so many heart-wrenching stories from Minnesotans of family members lost because people are on their smartphones instead of focusing on the road. It’s long past time we got this done.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Approve Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill Today”

DFL Lawmakers, Hands-Free Cell Phone Advocates Announce Monday Morning Press Conference

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – DFL lawmakers and Minnesotans who support the hands-free cell phone bill (House File 50) are holding a press conference Monday, March 18 at 11 a.m. in Capitol Room B971. This is an opportunity for members of the press to hear directly from Minnesotans and ask questions before the entire Minnesota House votes on the bill later in the day.

What:  Press conference about the hands-free cell phone bill (House File 50).

Who:

  • Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman
  • House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler
  • Rep. Frank Hornstein (chief sponsor of HF 50)
  • Minnesotans with family members killed as a result of distracted driving
  • Minnesotans who support the hands-free cell phone bill, including public safety leaders and business leaders

When:  Monday, March 18 at 11 am

Where:  Capitol Room B971

House DFL leaders to hold press conference Monday before vote on bill addressing Minnesota’s opioid crisis

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – During Monday afternoon’s floor session, the Minnesota House is set to vote on HF 400, a bill authored by House Majority Whip Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) aimed at ending the state’s opioid crisis. Prior to the session, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park) and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley) will join Rep. Olson for a press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol.

The legislation contains a comprehensive set of education, intervention, treatment and recovery strategies, including creation of an Opioid Stewardship Advisory Council. The bill holds pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the crisis through registration fees which will be deposited in an Opioid Stewardship Fund.

WHAT: Press conference previewing House consideration of HF 400, legislation to address Minnesota’s opioid crisis

WHO: Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), bill author and House Majority Whip; House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park); and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley)

WHEN: Monday, March 18, 2019, 1:30 pm

WHERE: Press Conference Room B971, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul