Dear Neighbors,
I hope that you are staying warm and safe! Please remember to check in on senior citizens, vulnerable adults, and others who are especially at risk this week with the extreme cold.
At the Capitol
It’s starting to feel like I’m settling into a routine here at the Capitol. My days are filled with community hearings and meetings with constituents and organizations. I’ve also been catching up on the many emails and phone calls that I’ve received from constituents. Please continue to reach out!
Though it’s still early in the session, dozens of bills are being introduced at each House floor session. I introduced my own first bill last week! This proposal—House File 333—provides a sales tax exemption for the construction materials to be used for the new public safety facility in the city of Minnetonka. This combined with funding from the city will allow for improved police and fire protection in our community. You can read more about it here.
I’ve also co-authored some important bills, including House File 4. Many in our community have told me about struggling to afford their medications. We must take action to control the dramatically rising cost of prescription drugs, and this proposal does just that. I’m also supporting House File 327, which requires law enforcement agencies to develop more comprehensive policies for sexual assault investigations. Victims of sexual assault deserve justice and respectful treatment.
Check out the MyBills tracker to learn more about the bills that have been introduced and follow them through the legislative process.
In the District
I had the pleasure of meeting with several groups from our district last week! On Friday I got the chance to hear from representatives of the Municipal Legislative Commission at their regional legislative priorities breakfast in Plymouth. I also toured REM Hennepin, a residential facility that provides services to those living with disabilities. I appreciated the opportunity to see the support that’s available in our district first-hand.
This weekend I participated in the ‘”Empowering Women, Empowering All” forum at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka. Representative Laurie Pryor, Representative Cheryl Youakim, and I had a great discussion about the challenges in our quest to empower women and our hopes for the future. Thank you to the many people who braved the cold to attend!
Looking Forward
I invite you to join Representative Ginny Klevorn and me for our first town hall of the 2019 session! We will answer questions, share stories and perspectives, and discuss the work being done at the Capitol.
Please continue to contact me with any questions or concerns. I can be reached at rep.patty.acomb@house.mn or 651-296-9934. For more updates, follow me on Facebook.
Sincerely,
Rep. Patty Acomb