Tag: House District 50A

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: March 14, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

This week sees the first committee deadline at the Legislature, meaning that bills must be heard by midnight this Friday in order to have a better chance of advancing through the legislative process.

There were some long nights and great opportunities to move forward several of the bills I am carrying this session. This update covers a few that were heard this week:

Peace Officer Excellence Task Force

The House Public Safety Committee heard my bill on establishing a Peace Officer Excellence Task Force this week. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: March 14, 2019”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: March 8, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

We’re coming to the halfway point for this year’s legislative session. Here’s an update on what’s been going on at the State Capitol this week.

Insulin for All

Minnesotans from across the state rallied at the State Capitol against the immoral cost of insulin. They are making headway in this fight against Big Pharma by sharing powerful stories about the struggle to afford life-saving medication that has tripled in price in the last decade. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: March 8, 2019”

Industry fees could be used to offset some insulin costs

Minnesota State Capitol

Insulin producers could be asked to help fund access to the life-saving drug.

“According to some studies, one in four diabetics are rationing their insulin because they cannot afford it,” said Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield).

He sponsorsHF485 that would establish an insulin manufacturer’s registration fee to fund an insulin assistance program. That program would serve people who earn too much money to qualify for existing public programs, but not enough to afford the cost of insulin on their own.

View the complete March 5 article by Erin Martin on the Minnesota House of Representatives website here.

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: March 1, 2019

It’s time.

Minnesotans spoke loud and clear in the last election about their desire to do something about our nation’s epidemic of senseless gun violence. Community leaders, neighbors, parents, survivors, and especially students, are raising their voices and demanding that we take action. This week, we took our first major step in the right direction. The House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform committee voted in favor of HF 8 to require criminal background checks on gun sales and HF 9 to establish extreme risk protection orders. I was proud to vote yes for both bills.

HF 8 – Criminal background checks on all gun sales
Federal law only requires background checks on gun sales made by licensed firearm dealers. These laws prevent certain people with dangerous histories from buying guns, such as convicted felons, domestic abusers, and people with severe mental illnesses. However, current law does not require that unlicensed sellers run these checks – a loophole that allows millions of guns to change hands each year in the United States without background checks. HF 8 will close this loophole. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: March 1, 2019”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 21, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

It’s official, this is the snowiest February on record in Minnesota. Take a break from shoveling and read up on the legislative news from this week!

Governor’s Budget

This week Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan introduced their ‘One Minnesota’ budget proposal for the next two years. In many ways, the introduction of the Governor’s budget is the “first volley” in the collaborative effort between the Minnesota Legislature and Governor to pass our two-year budget. I am encouraged by the Governor’s focus and priorities, which invest in education from pre-K to college, expand access to affordable health care, and create tools to help local communities thrive. You can read more about Governor Walz’s  budget here.

What are your thoughts? The House has already begun in earnest working on our budget and I would love to hear from you about your budget priorities.  Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 21, 2019”

ep. Michael Howard Introduces Homework Starts with Home Legislation

State Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield) introduced “Homework Starts with Home” legislation today, seeking $8 million to provide innovative solutions to help combat home instability for Minnesota students and families.

“Every student in Minnesota deserves a safe and stable place to call their home, but the reality is far too many of our students lack this basic necessity,” said Howard. “Homework Starts with Home is an innovative, community-centered initiative that acknowledges the important intersection between housing stability and student achievement. Success in the classroom for our students begins with stability for our students at home.”

Last year more than 9,500 students enrolled in Minnesota public schools across the state experienced homelessness. This is a challenge faced by communities across the state, impacting more than 1,000 schools in 77 Minnesota counties. Home instability leads to challenges for students in the classroom. Only one in four third graders facing homelessness reads at their grade level. They are 37 percent less likely to be proficient compared with their low-income but housed counterparts, and more likely to be absent from school. Continue reading “ep. Michael Howard Introduces Homework Starts with Home Legislation”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 15, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

We’re over a month into the 2019 legislative session, and things are picking up. Here’s an update of what we’ve been working on this week.

Nurses Day at the Capitol

It was the Minnesota Nurses Association “Day on the Hill” this week, with nurses from all over Minnesota coming to the State Capitol to join in the fight for a more inclusive health care system. They believe that all Minnesotans should have access to quality, affordable health care, and I’m right there with them. A special thanks to the nurses from Richfield and Bloomington who stopped by to speak with me about making sure Minnesotans receive the care they need and deserve.

Teachers of Color Bill

In Minnesota, only 4.3 percent of teachers are people of color, a percentage that pales in comparison to the 33 percent of students who are people of color. We need to do better to ensure that the diversity of our state is reflected in the workforce that is educating the next generation of Minnesotans, which is why I’m supporting the Increase Teachers of Color Act. This legislation would provide loan forgiveness and scholarships to incentivize students of color to become teachers. It would also set the goal of increasing the number of teachers of color by 2 percent every year. The achievement gap in Minnesota is one of the biggest hurdles we face, but this bill would put us on the right path towards closing that gap. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 15, 2019”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 7, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

What happened to our 40 degree weekend? Things are slow-moving on the roads, but not so much in the Minnesota House. There are several pieces of legislation and updates from this week that I’d like to share with you.

First bill passed – and it’s a good one 

Minnesota cannot build a more equitable future for all unless we learn lessons from our history and be purposeful in eliminating systemic racism. That is the purpose behind HF 51, the first bill we passed off the House floor this week.

HF 51 seeks to address the racial disparities that have long existed in the housing history of our state. If signed into law, it would allow homeowners to formally denounce restrictive covenants on their home titles. Restrictive covenants were used in the past to prevent minority communities from moving into residential neighborhoods. They are now unconstitutional, but the racist language remains in the abstract of many titles. The bill would allow homeowners to attach a formal document to their home title repudiating this racist language and practice. I’m happy to say that the bill passed the House unanimously. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: February 7, 2019”

Rep. Mike Howard (HD50A) Update: January 31, 2019

Friends and Neighbors,

Temperatures may be freezing, but the pace of our work at the Minnesota Legislature is starting to heat up. I want to invite you to a SD 50 Listening Session on February 2nd from 10:00am to 11:30am at Northwestern University in Bloomington to share your input and ideas about the issues that are most important to you. If you are able to attend, please come for a relaxed and productive discussion. And the forecast calls for temperatures of 40 degrees (above zero)!

Continue reading “Rep. Mike Howard (HD50A) Update: January 31, 2019”

Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: January 28, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope the start of 2019 has been treating you and your family well. This is the first of my legislative e-updates, which I aim to send regularly during the legislative session to provide updates on our work and to raise up the voices and concerns of our community.

We are off to a fast start during the 2019 session. I was sworn in as your state representative on January 8, and the words that are still sticking with me from that day came from our House Chaplain who wished for new legislators to be “compassionate, fierce and just.” I take this to heart as I begin this awesome responsibility of serving our community the Minnesota House.

There’s a lot of work to get done, and I’m honored to do my part serving as the vice chair of the Housing Finance and Policy Division. Other committees I serve on include: Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: January 28, 2019”