Category: SD49

Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: May 17, 2019

 

Dear Neighbors,

Negotiations between the House, Senate and Governor are ongoing with 72 hours until we must constitutionally adjourn. I’m optimistic we can find common ground to put forward a strong and fiscally responsible state budget for Minnesotans. Here’s an update from the Capitol:

Conference Committees

House/Senate conference committees continue their work to reconcile policy and fiscal differences within the bills. Without budget ‘targets’ this has proven to be difficult, but nonetheless the House is working hard to use every minute wisely.

I’m pleased to share the Education conference committee incorporated my bill into the education budget. The legislation would require a school district to screen students for dyslexia before the end of kindergarten and by the beginning of second grade. When reading challenges occur, oftentimes families can’t afford to have their kids screened. Enabling school districts to have this tool ensures all kids are counted and that they can be successful in the classroom. Continue reading “Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: May 17, 2019”

Rep. Steve Elkins (HD49B) Update: May 16, 2019

 

Dear Neighbors,

Last week, amid preliminary budget negotiations with the Senate, the House took bold action to reduce soaring prescription drug costs. The legislation would regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), who act as “middle men” between drug manufacturers and pharmacies.

Working on behalf of health insurance plans, PBMs negotiate discounts and rebates on prescription drug purchases with drug manufacturers, keeping a share of the savings for themselves. In exchange for the discounts and rebates, PBMs use the “formularies” (lists of covered drugs) that they create for the health plan to steer the health plan’s members into using the drugs offering the biggest rebates. The greater the volume that the PBM steers towards a manufacturer, the bigger the rebate. However, for many patients, the drug with the biggest rebate may not be the most effective drug. If the PBM negotiates a bigger rebate with a different manufacturer, then a drug that’s been working for you might be dropped from the formulary, midyear. Continue reading “Rep. Steve Elkins (HD49B) Update: May 16, 2019”

Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: May 10, 2019

Volume 5, Issue 17                          May 10, 2019

Weekly Review Video

Video
Play Button

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

With just ten days left of the 2019 legislative session, the lack of agreement between leaders could imperil the goal of finishing on time. Joint budget negotiations hit a roadblock this week when leaders of the House and Senate and Governor Walz failed to reach an agreement on budget targets by their self-imposed deadline of May 6. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: May 10, 2019”

Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: May 3, 2019

Volume 5, Issue 16                                 May 3, 2019

Weekly Review Video

Video
Play Button

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

This week the Senate spent overtime hours late into the evening and early hours of the morning to pass all major budget bills off the floor and send them to conference committee. These omnibus bills include: Jobs, Energy & Commerce; Health and Human Services; Taxes; Transportation; and E-12, respectively. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote for these bills because they include controversial policies like preemption, school vouchers , and an abortion ban. I included at the bottom of the email a side-by-side summary of the House and Senate language for your convenience. I hope to vote for these bills after conference committee with these provisions removed. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: May 3, 2019”

Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: May 1, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

The House has approved our components of the state budget. It was a long two weeks with many late nights of debate and discussion.

After the Minnesota Senate approves their respective budget bills, lawmakers from each chamber will form a conference committee to reach agreement on a final budget. If there is legislation you care deeply about, please be sure to contact my office by email or phone.

Below is a summary of the budget bills passed: Continue reading “Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: May 1, 2019”

Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: April 26, 2019

Volume 5, Issue 15                         April 26, 2019

Weekly Review Video

Image

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

With just over three weeks left of the 2019 session, legislators have worked long hours to debate, discuss, and pass budgets in Finance or on the floor for various issues from agriculture to transportation. All budget bills need to pass the House and Senate by May 1 and head into Conference Committee where differences between the two budgets will be worked out. Because the bills are so different, it is expected to be a drawn-out process. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: April 26, 2019”

Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: April 12, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well and you’ve had a great week. Our budget bills are making their final committee stops before we head to longer floor sessions. Next week, the Legislature will observe Easter and Passover, so I will be back in Edina, connecting with community members in the district.

Here’s an update from the Capitol:

Governor Walz Signs Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill into Law

Governor Tim Walz today signed the compromise ‘hands free’ legislation into law. Minnesota will be the 17th state, plus the District of Columbia, to require a ‘hands free’ device while driving beginning August 1, 2019. It was an honor to support the bill on Tuesday on the House Floor when it passed with overwhelming support of 107-9. Continue reading “Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: April 12, 2019”

Sen. Melisa Franzen Update: April 12, 2019

Volume 5, Issue 14                                April 12, 2019

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Video
Play Button

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

There are officially only six weeks left of the 2019 Legislative Session. This week marked the third committee deadline before the legislature goes on a week-long break. Committees were working overtime to mark up lengthy omnibus bills to get them ready to send to the floor by adding and deleting language through amendments. Both Transportation and HHS met this week to go through their omnibus bills.

We voted on 5 bills on the floor, all of which passed. Notably, the Senate voted to pass SF 75, which increases penalties for those who cause accidents as a result of being on their phone. The legislation increases the mandatory fine for a first offense from $50 to $150, from $275 to $300 for the second offense, and from $275 to $500 for a third or subsequent offense if the three offenses are within ten years of each other. It also provides that a third or subsequent offense within ten years would require a court appearance resulting in a 30-day driver’s license suspension. A driver would be eligible to apply for a limited license under court-imposed conditions. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen Update: April 12, 2019”

Rep. Steve Elkins (HD49B) Update: April 11, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

Committees are wrapping up their work on final budget bills and our focus will soon shift toward longer floor sessions.

Here’s an update from the Capitol:

‘Hands Free’ Device Legislation Update

With my support, the Minnesota House passed the final, compromise ‘hands free’ bill on Tuesday after differences were reconciled with the Minnesota Senate. The Governor is expected to sign the bill this week, making Minnesota the 17th state, including the District of Columbia, to require hands-free devices while driving. I’m glad we could pass this long overdue bill in a bipartisan fashion to help make our roadways safer for everyone. Minnesota Public Radio covered the vote here. Continue reading “Rep. Steve Elkins (HD49B) Update: April 11, 2019”

Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: April 5, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well! Here’s an update from St. Paul:

Governor Walz’s State of the State Address

It was an honor to attend the State of State representing our great City of Edina. Governor Walz delivered a compelling speech asking us to work together, across party lines for the people of Minnesota. I heard his message that we have the opportunity to change the dialogue from what a divided government can’t do — to a new story about what divided government can accomplish. As we enter into the final stretch of the 2019 legislative session, I hope we can live up to this and place the people of Minnesota above party politics. Thank you for the inspiration, Governor!

The Star Tribune’s coverage of the address is here. Continue reading “Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: April 5, 2019”