Tag: 2019 Minnesota legislative session

House and Senate approve consensus package of elder care reforms

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – New protections for seniors and vulnerable adults earned final approval from the Minnesota Legislature Sunday night. The bill, HF 90, will create a licensure framework for assisted living facilities along with other safeguards to protect older and vulnerable adults.

“The ability for older and vulnerable Minnesotans to receive the care they need in a dignified, safe living environment is a value we all share as Minnesotans,” said Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), the bill author and chair of the House Long-Term Care Division. “An incredible amount of work went into this compromise and I want to thank advocates including AARP Minnesota, Legal Aid, Elder Voice Family Advocates and every single Minnesotan who told their story about why this legislation is so important. I also want to thank Minnesota’s care providers for their perspective throughout this process.”

Currently, Minnesota is the only state that doesn’t require licensure of assisted living facilities. In addition to the new licensing framework, reforms in the legislation include establishing a bill of rights for residents of assisted living facilities, stronger consumer protection measures, uniform standards for facilities providing dementia cares services, and ensuring the ability for a resident to have a camera in their living space. Under the agreement reached between providers, advocates, and legislators, a resident can install a camera in their residence 14 days before being required to notify the facility of its presence, giving family members the peace of mind to know that their loved ones are being treated with care and respect. Continue reading “House and Senate approve consensus package of elder care reforms”

Statement from Speaker Hortman on budget agreement

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Tonight, the House, Senate, and Governor reached a bipartisan agreement on budget targets.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman released the following statement:

“Minnesota House DFLers are committed to building a Minnesota that works better for everyone. We reached a bipartisan budget agreement with Governor Walz and Senate Republicans that provides strong funding for education and secures health care for more than one million Minnesotans. While the budget agreement does not contain everything we would have liked, we worked together and achieved a compromise that is in the best interests of Minnesotans.”

DFL Statement on GOP Budget Gimmicks

Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement in response to the latest budgetary stunt pulled by Minnesota Senate Republicans.

“Senate Republicans just made reaching a budget agreement much harder.

“When Senate Republicans passed their entire wish list as an “insurance measure” in case negotiations fail, they gave themselves every incentive to sabotage those negotiations. This is a political stunt, not serious governing.

“Minnesotans overwhelmingly voted for DFLers last November. It’s time for Republicans to accept that, drop their gimmicks, and work with DFLers for the good of Minnesotans everywhere.”

Republicans Vote “No” on Two Gun Violence Prevention Bills

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today Republican State Senator Warren Limmer of Maple Grove cast one of the deciding votes to defeat by a 5-5 party-line vote two gun violence prevention bills that are broadly supported by Minnesota families, law enforcement officials, students, and public safety organizations.

Legislators who serve on the Public Safety and Judiciary conference committee, of which Limmer is the co-chair, took on-the-record votes today to establish “red flag” laws and criminal background checks for firearm purchases.According to the most recent public opinion polling, as many as 90 percent of Minnesotans support these gun violence prevention bills.

“Minnesotans are demanding that we do more to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, but this session Republicans have opposed every effort to do that,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – Saint Paul), chief author of House File 8, the criminal background check bill. “Today, they chose not to move forward on two gun safety measures despite broad public support. That is deeply disappointing to thousands of families who have been touched by gun violence and expect action.” Continue reading “Republicans Vote “No” on Two Gun Violence Prevention Bills”

Statement from House Majority Leader Winkler on budget negotiations

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The House, Senate, and Governor’s office concluded negotiations tonight without an agreement on budget targets. The Republican-controlled Senate has yet to make a substantial offer in negotiations.

House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statement:

“Republican tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy are robbing Minnesotans of economic success and opportunity. House DFLers are waiting for Senate Republicans to move from their destructive budget’s starting position, actually make an offer, and get serious about compromise. Tonight it looks like an extreme Republican tax position is holding up budget talks. We have put forward an honest budget that makes needed investments to improve the lives of Minnesotans. We’re continuing to wait for Senate Republicans to make a real effort at compromise.”

Here is the background information:

Budget and Tax Charts

Extreme Republican Tax Position

Income Inequality links_graphs

Home for All Coalition calls for boldest agenda in state history to address statewide housing crisis

Homes for All, a statewide coalition of more than 200 organizations advancing shared policy initiatives leading to housing stability for all Minnesotans is calling for the boldest agenda in state history to address Minnesota’s statewide housing crisis. The Homes for All Coalition unveiled their agenda today in Minnesota State House hearing and joined a strong and diverse group of supporters from across Minnesota at the State Capitol to push for action.

Advocates representing nonprofits, business, health care, education, and other sectors will come together Wednesday morning to share with lawmakers how housing impacts their world in the Capitol Press Conference Room (B971) at 11 a.m. Speakers include Rep. Michael Howard, Rep. Alice Hausman, Jordan May, Executive Director of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Reservation, Jonathan Weinhagen, President and CEO of Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Fatima Moore, Co-Chair of the Homes for All policy team.

Homes for All is a statewide coalition advancing shared policy initiatives of more than 200 organizations that lead to housing stability for all Minnesotans. Visit our website for more information:  www.homesforallmn.org.