Tag: Minnesota House of Representatives

Minnesota House Expected to Approve New Tax Bill

100% of new revenue is invested in E-12 education

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House is expected to approve a new tax bill that would raise $1.2 billion in new revenue, largely by taxing corporations’ foreign profits, and invest it in education, health care, and safe and inclusive communities. The proposal comes as large corporations and the wealthy own increasing amounts of our economy, and destructive Republican budgets harm family economic security and limit opportunities for our children.

“With this bill, we are leveling the playing field for working families, farmers, small businesses, and senior citizens,” said Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth), Chair of the House Tax Committee. “Democrats are making Minnesota’s tax system fairer, we’re bringing in new revenue to build a great future, and we’re providing real tax reform, including greater transparency and accountability. This bill is a winner for the taxpayer.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Approve New Tax Bill”

Minnesota House Expected to Approve New Health and Human Services Budget

House DFL budget would lower costs for Minnesotans, hold Big Pharma accountable, give doctors and patients more control over care

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House was expected to approve a new Health and Human Services budget yesterday. House Democrats’ HHS budget would help ensure that all Minnesotans can access the high-quality, affordable health care they deserve. It makes prescription drugs more affordable, ends taxpayer handouts to insurance companies, and expands coverage options and ensures care remains available for low-income Minnesotans.

A fact sheet with more information is available for download here.

“After years of insurance companies and Big Pharma controlling the health care of too many Minnesotans, today House DFLers are moving to ensure everyone can access the care they need,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Division. “Costs for health care services, insurance premiums, and prescription drug prices are out of control. Through a wide array of solutions, our HHS budget addresses these and other problems to strengthen health care in Minnesota.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Approve New Health and Human Services Budget”

House Tax Committee Chair Paul Marquart Reacts to Senate Republican Tax Bill

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Monday, April 8, House Democrats announced a comprehensive tax bill that levels the playing field for Minnesotans after big corporations hit the jackpot with federal tax reform. Today, Senate Republicans announced their tax bill and shared it with members of the public for the first time – 16 days after Democrats released their plan to the public.

House Tax Committee Chair Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth) released the following statement in reaction to Senate Republicans’ tax bill.

“The Senate Republican tax bill is a starting point for negotiations with the House. Our approach provides a much better tax bill. Democrats are bringing in new resources to provide for the things Minnesotans are asking us to do, such as investing in schools, health care, economic security, and public safety. The House DFL tax bill builds a great future for all Minnesotans, no matter where you live or who you are. It levels the playing field for our working families, farmers, senior citizens, and small businesses after big corporations hit the jackpot with federal tax reform. And it makes our tax system fairer. Democrats have a winner for Minnesota taxpayers in our bill, and we’re proud to have shared it with members of the public for scrutiny and discussion more than two weeks ago.”

Minnesota House Expected to Approve Jobs and Energy Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House was expected to approve a new Jobs and Energy budget April 24 (HF 2208). It includes major House DFL priorities such as giving every Minnesotan access to Paid Family and Medical Leave and Earned Sick and Safe Time. Both priorities are inspired by Minnesotans who have told the Legislature that they are being forced to choose between earning a paycheck or caring for a family member, or themselves.

“We’re working to ensure Minnesotans have access to jobs with wages and benefits that can support a family,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The Minnesota House DFL budget will improve economic security, strengthen our growing clean energy economy, and begin to address climate change in Minnesota.”

The House DFL Jobs and Energy budget includes tougher protections against wage theft. With 39,000 Minnesotans experiencing wage theft in some form every year, the budget would protect wages and hold employers who take advantage of workers accountable. Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Approve Jobs and Energy Budget”

Minnesota House Expected to Approve E-12 Education Budget

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The evening of April 23, the Minnesota House of Representatives was expected to approve a new E-12 education budget that makes honest investments in every student in every public school. The budget is inspired by parents, students, teachers, staff, and administrators who have told legislators that current funding levels are not adequate.

“All Minnesota children deserve a world-class education and every opportunity to succeed,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Our Minnesota Values Budget would make significant investments in education to strengthen our workforce and support our students. House DFLers are working to build a Minnesota that works for everyone.”

As a result of destructive Republican budgeting, Minnesota’s public schools have experienced chronic underfunding. While some communities have the financial ability to build great schools through bond referendums and bigger operating levies, other communities with smaller property tax bases do not. Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Approve E-12 Education Budget”

DFL Lawmakers Announce Comprehensive Plan to Make Prescription Drugs More Affordable, Accessible

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – House DFL lawmakers today introduced a comprehensive plan to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible by holding pharmaceutical companies accountable and putting more power in the hands of Minnesotans who are struggling with the skyrocketing cost of needed medications.

Click here to watch a video replay of today’s news conference.

Across the country, Americans are facing a prescription drug pricing crisis. Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. struggle to afford their prescription drugs, forcing patients to make impossible choices. According to a recent report, 30 percent of Minnesotans say they have not taken their medicine as prescribed due to costs, or have reported skipping doses, cutting pills in half, substituting with over-the-counter drugs, or not filling a prescription in the past year. Continue reading “DFL Lawmakers Announce Comprehensive Plan to Make Prescription Drugs More Affordable, Accessible”

Tuesday at 11: News conference announcing new comprehensive plan to make prescription drugs affordable and accessible for Minnesotans

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday, March 26 at 11 a.m. in Capitol Room B971, DFL lawmakers and the parents of Alec Smith are announcing a new comprehensive plan to make prescription drugs affordable and accessible for all Minnesotans. Alec died in 2017 at age 26 because he could not afford to pay the $1,300 cost of his insulin prescription.

This is an opportunity for reporters to learn about DFL lawmakers’ new plan (scope extends beyond insulin), listen to Minnesotans talk about the plan’s impact on their lives, and ask questions.

Who:

  • Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt, Jr. (parents of Alec Smith)
  • Majority Leader Ryan Winkler
  • Rep. Michael Howard
  • Rep. Laurie Halverson
  • Rep. John Lesch
  • Rep. Kelly Morrison (physician)
  • Rep. Alice Mann (physician)
  • Rep. Hunter Cantrell
  • Rep. Kristin Bahner

When:  Tuesday, March 26 at 11 a.m.

Where:  Capitol Room B971

Minnesota House Expected to Approve Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill Today

SAINT PAUL – The Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to approve the hands-free cell phone bill (House File 50) during today’s floor session. Legislators are taking action in response to victims of distracted driving who want to prevent more deaths.

“Distracted driving fatalities are continually on the rise,” said chief sponsor and Transportation Division Chair Frank Hornstein. “Requiring ‘Hands-free’ mode will deliver common sense safety measures to combat these preventable tragedies.”

Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia have hands-free cell phone laws. According to WCCO’s latest Reality Check, crashes and fatalities on the road decrease when states have hands-free cell phone laws on the books.

“Minnesotans deserve to be safe on our roadways,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “There is clear evidence from other states that these types of laws save lives. We’ve heard so many heart-wrenching stories from Minnesotans of family members lost because people are on their smartphones instead of focusing on the road. It’s long past time we got this done.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Expected to Approve Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill Today”