Tag: HD48B

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 18, 2020


Dear Neighbors,

We wrapped up the 2020 session yesterday. This session has been extraordinary in several ways, and we had to make difficult adjustments in order to pass needed legislation. By working together we passed significant COVID-19 legislation giving Minnesota some of the resources it needed to rise to the challenge. However, in the final week, Republicans decided to block a lot of important legislation, and while there may be an opportunity to reconsider these critical measures as we continue our efforts addressing COVID-19, this last weekend was our best shot at reaching a compromise. Here is some major legislation that we championed but were unable to pass through our Republicans colleagues in the final hours:

  • ratification of state worker contracts; these state employees include nurses on the front lines of COVID-19, corrections officers, cleaning and sanitation workers, public health workers doing the essential job of testing, monitoring, tracing, and mitigating COVID-19 in Minnesota. They are critical to our fight against COVID-19 and Republicans let them down;
  • $100 million in housing assistance for all Minnesotans; Minnesotans all across the state are facing difficulty paying their rent and mortgages, in order to fight this virus everyone needs a stable home;
  • increased Minnesota Family Investment assistance for Minnesota families that need the most help;
  • temporary wage increase for personal care assistants who are taking care of our most vulnerable;
  • ensuring full pay for hourly school workers; these workers are helping raise and care for our children, they deserve to have financial assurance in these trying times;
  • emergency loans for state small and minority owned businesses; this was something that I worked on because these businesses form the backbone of our communities and they need our assistance.

Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 18, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: May 8, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

We’re nearing the end of the 2020 legislative regular session, with our constitutional adjournment date of May 18 just ten days away. Things are moving pretty fast. To make it easier for you to stay in the loop, Representative Pryor, Senator Cwodzinski and I want to invite you to join us next week for a virtual town hall streaming live on Wednesday, May 13, at 12:00 PM on my State Representative Facebook Page.

We’ll be able to provide an update on our work and the path ahead, but more importantly we want to hear from you. Your input is important to us, and the questions, comments, and stories of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted you will help us in our work at the state capitol. In order for us to properly answer your questions, we encourage you to submit them ahead of the town hall here. We look forward to hearing from you! In case of conflict with a scheduled floor session, we will reschedule as soon as possible.

Town Hall Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: May 8, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: April 24, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are healthy as we continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic in our state. In the Minnesota House, we remain hard at work, mostly from home, as we strive to deliver the resources our communities need during this trying time.

There has been some good news this week, especially with the state working alongside the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and Hennepin Healthcare to deliver 20,000 tests a day for COVID-19. This is exactly the kind of ingenuity and teamwork that is making Minnesota a leader in the fight against this coronavirus, and now, widespread testing will be a huge part in working toward some sense of normalcy in our communities.

testing breakthrough

You can read more about this breakthrough on testing here. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: April 24, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: April 13, 2020

NOTE: This update arrived after our last post of the day.  The tomorrow in the first sentence is actually today, April 14, 2020.

Dear Neighbors,

Tomorrow, the Minnesota Legislature will meet to pass additional legislation to bolster our state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like last week, legislators will be voting remotely in an effort to adhere to the social distancing guidelines recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health. You’ll be able to watch the action on the House floor the same as me, through the livestream that will be available here, starting at noon.
Selfie

Last week, we passed a bipartisan bill to ensure that Minnesota’s health care and public safety officials have access to the workers’ compensation they deserve in the event that they contract COVID-19. These are vulnerable, exposed jobs, and we need to support the professions that in turn support our state; the nurses, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, child care workers, and corrections officers. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: April 13, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: March 20, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

These continue to be challenging and uncertain times, but I’ve been deeply moved by the ways our community and state have banded together during this pandemic. We’re working hard in the Minnesota Legislature to ensure our state stays strong during and after COVID-19, even if the way we work has been altered.

MN House Proposals

At home, we’ve been trying to get outside daily for some fresh air and exercise on one of Eden Prairie’s many recreational trails, and I’ve had the chance to say hello to a number of neighbors at a six-foot distance. I hope you have the opportunity to do so as well.

Trail

The latest from Governor Walz includes new executive orders granting Emergency Authority to the Department of Human Services (DHS), regulations preventing price gouging, and opening MNsure for enrollment. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: March 20, 2020”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 16, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Minnesota’s Legislature, governor, and public health officials are working around the clock to respond to challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a rapidly evolving situation and I want to acknowledge that Minnesotans are facing a lot of uncertainty through no fault of their own.

I’m sharing a brief update on where things stand at the state government level as of today (Monday, March 16), including actions already taken by the Legislature and the governor, and current measures we are advancing to support workers, employers, and health care providers. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: March 16, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: March 13, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

As we receive more information about COVID-19, I remain grateful that our state has a strong and prepared public health system. To reinforce this, my colleagues and I in the Minnesota Legislature unanimously passed $20.8 million in funding to ensure that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has the resources they need to slow and stop the spread of this virus. We’re in a time of uncertainty right now, but it’s important that these challenges are met with a robust response. I echo the comments of our public health officials and ask our community to do what they can to stay hygienic, stay home if sick, and stay informed.

Today, Governor Walz declared a peacetime state of emergency, highlighting the need to implement community mitigation strategies. This would include avoiding large gatherings, travel, and practicing personal protective measures. This does not mean healthy individuals should bar themselves from leaving their homes, just that practical measures should be taken to avoid contracting and spreading the virus. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: March 13, 2020”

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: March 6, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

We’ve spent a good chunk of the past few weeks passing our first bills of the 2020 session off the House floor. All of them are impactful to the lives of Minnesotans, and were prioritized because they are time-sensitive or had been extensively vetted last session. Although we passed some of these bills, or similar proposals, in 2019, lack of action in the Minnesota Senate forced us to again prioritize these proposals that matter to Minnesotans.

The Alec Smith Affordable Insulin Act

Our first bill to pass off the House floor this year would create a statewide insulin assistance program to help Minnesotans when they struggle to afford the insulin they desperately need. Minnesotans with diabetes would be able to apply and receive an emergency fill of insulin at a community pharmacy. In addition, they would be connected with options for long-term affordable insulin coverage. Alec’s bill would also cap co-pays for insulin at $30 per month for patients on state-regulated health insurance plans. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: March 6, 2020”

Citizens drive home top legislative priorities at Eden Prairie town hall

Sometimes, politics can seem like an abstract concept, far from the realities of everyday life. But at a Feb. 29 town hall with Eden Prairie’s trio of state representatives, voters’ questions to their legislators touched on urgent topics, from insulin affordability and COVID-19 to how Minnesota will be represented in Congress after the 2020 Census.

Around 50 people gathered to discuss their concerns with state Reps. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, D-Eden Prairie, and Laurie Pryor, D-Minnetonka, and state Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, D-Eden Prairie, in the East Commons of Eden Prairie High School.

The event drew people like Clarence Richard, of Minnetonka, a town hall regular who arrived dressed head-to-toe in U.S. flags; as well as newcomers, like Adam Butcher, of Eden Prairie, a first-timer who brought his four children to the event in the hopes of learning more about local legislation. He and his small crew posed for a picture with Cwodzinski after chatting as the event wound to a close. Continue reading.

Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: February 25, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

The most recent week of the 2020 legislative session proved to be just as exciting as the first. I started off last week by joining my fellow members of the Climate Action Caucus as we announced our proposals to address climate change in Minnesota. The Climate Action Caucus held informational hearings over the past few months to learn more about the ways climate solutions can be incorporated into various policy areas, and from these hearings – and the tireless work of advocates – we came up with several pieces of legislation that invest in energy efficient buildings, electric bus fleets, and the diversion of public waste.

Climate Presser

You can stay connected to our work in the Climate Action Caucus by subscribing to updates here, and you can read more about our proposals here.

Be Heard on Cannabis

Thank you to everyone that came out to our “Be Heard on Cannabis” event in Eden Prairie during the legislative recess. The legalization of adult-use cannabis is getting its first serious look in the Minnesota House this year, and your input was extremely helpful. I know not everyone was able to join us for that event, which is why I created an online survey for our community to share their thoughts and ideas on this issue. If you have a moment, please take this brief survey here. Continue reading “Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD48B) Update: February 25, 2020”