Tag: Minnesota House of Representatives

House DFL leaders to hold press conference before vote on bill addressing Minnesota’s opioid crisis

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – During this afternoon’s floor session, the Minnesota House is set to vote on HF 400, a bill authored by House Majority Whip Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) aimed at ending the state’s opioid crisis. Prior to the session, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park) and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley) will join Rep. Olson for a press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol.

The legislation contains a comprehensive set of education, intervention, treatment and recovery strategies, including creation of an Opioid Stewardship Advisory Council. The bill holds pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the crisis through registration fees which will be deposited in an Opioid Stewardship Fund.

WHAT: Press conference previewing House consideration of HF 400, legislation to address Minnesota’s opioid crisis

WHO: Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), bill author and House Majority Whip; House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park); and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley)

WHEN: Monday, March 18, 2019, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Press Conference Room B971, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul

 

House DFL set to take action to end Minnesota’s opioid crisis

Legislation funds comprehensive strategies; holds Big Pharma accountable

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House is prepared to vote Monday afternoon on HF 400, a bill authored by Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), the House Majority Whip, aimed at ending the state’s opioid crisis. The legislation has robust strategies for prevention, education, intervention, training, treatment and recovery.

“Minnesotans truly can’t wait any longer for leaders in this state to take meaningful action to address the terrible tragedies caused by this crisis,” Rep. Olson said. “The bill we’re set to pass today off the House floor looks at the issues around opioids in a holistic way, delivering resources to our communities to save lives. It also ensures long-overdue accountability for the drug makers who have profited off this crisis, and so-far have refused to be part of any solution.” Continue reading “House DFL set to take action to end Minnesota’s opioid crisis”

House Commerce Committee approves moratorium on non-profit to for-profit HMO conversions; bill includes strong consumer protections

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The House Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved a bill requiring any transition of a non-profit health maintenance organization (HMO) to a for-profit enterprise to be reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Attorney General. The legislation, HF 533, authored by Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) also prohibits a non-profit HMO from using earnings for any purpose other than providing comprehensive health care – giving the Attorney General oversight if a non-profit seeks to transfer assets to a for-profit arm, and extends the moratorium on HMO conversions to 2029.

“Minnesotans expect that money they’ve paid toward health care will go toward just that purpose: providing health care, not enriching insurance company executives and shareholders,” Rep. Schultz said. “The repeal of the for-profit ban was in addition to the $542 million handout insurance companies received from the reinsurance bill. As we work on real solutions making health care more affordable and improving the quality of care Minnesotans receive, the accountability measures in this bill will help ensure that money for health care is spent on people, not going toward corporate profits.”

In 2017, the Republican-led Legislature ended Minnesota’s 40-year ban on for-profit health insurers operating in Minnesota. This policy was repealed without any oversight measures being put in place. Continue reading “House Commerce Committee approves moratorium on non-profit to for-profit HMO conversions; bill includes strong consumer protections”

Minnesota House votes unanimously to end child marriages

Between 2000 and 2010, nearly 250,000 children, as young as 12 years old, were married in the U.S.

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted unanimously to end child marriages in Minnesota. Ninety percent of child marriages occur between individuals with a significant enough age gap that, if not for the marriage, a sexual relationship would constitute statutory rape.

“This is a vote to end the exploitation of the most vulnerable Minnesotans,” said Rep. Kaohly Her, chief author of the legislation. “Child marriage is not just an international issue. It happens in the United States, in new immigrant communities as well as communities that have lived in this country for many generations. And it has the nearly universal effect of stunting childhoods and exposing minors to abuse, poverty, and life-long physical and mental health challenges.”

Children who get married are significantly more likely to experience abuse, poverty, adverse physical and mental health outcomes, underage pregnancy, death resulting from childbirth, and to drop out of school . Exceptions in 48 states allow those younger than 18 to marry. If passed, the bill would make marriages for children under 18 illegal in Minnesota and require proof of age during the marriage license application process. Continue reading “Minnesota House votes unanimously to end child marriages”

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.

Majority Leader Winkler, Sen. Housley introduce legislation to rededicate Interstate Park as Walter F. Mondale State Park

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley) and state Senator Karin Housley (R – St. Marys Point) have introduced legislation that would rededicate the Minnesota portion of Interstate Park as Walter F. Mondale State Park.

“We are honoring Walter Mondale’s lifelong devotion to public service and his foresight in preserving the St. Croix Scenic Riverway as a national treasure,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Vice President Mondale has left us a legacy of rugged and pristine beauty which we will enjoy for generations to come, and so it is fitting that we recognize him in this way.” 

“Interstate Park is the first such interstate park in the nation. For decades, Minnesotans have marveled at its storied history and natural beauty,” Senator Housley said. “It’s only fitting that we renew the spirit of bipartisanship that led to the park’s creation by naming the Minnesota portion of Interstate Park after its original champion, Walter Mondale.” Continue reading “Majority Leader Winkler, Sen. Housley introduce legislation to rededicate Interstate Park as Walter F. Mondale State Park”

Statement from House DFL Leadership on MNLARS, Andover Landfill funding

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Minnesota House passed MNLARS deficiency funding and general obligation bonding for the projects previously funded through the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, including the cleanup of the Andover landfill. Due to their funding source, those projects have been held up in litigation.

Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements:

“Today, the House passed funding so we can continue to improve the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System – to reduce wait times and increase efficiency for Minnesotans. We also solved a problem created by the previous Legislature when they unnecessarily borrowed against the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Further, moving quickly to fund the Andover landfill cleanup is critically important to residents of the north metro area,” said Speaker Hortman. “This is an example of how divided government can work if we’re willing to work together, find solutions, and compromise.”

“House DFLers believe in honest budgeting and solving problems facing Minnesotans,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “We hope this is just the first step as we face much more challenging issues this session.”

House to Hold Hearing on Legislation to Address Skyrocketing Cost of Insulin

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Tomorrow, March 5, the House Commerce Committee will hear several bills to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin, including the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act. The hearing will take place in conjunction with Insulin for All Day at the Minnesota State Capitol, where Minnesotans will share their stories and struggles with access to affordable insulin. Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt will speak at the rally and testify before the House Commerce committee, sharing the story of their son Alec, who lost his life when we was forced to ration his insulin because he could not afford it.

“In Minnesota, no one should lose their life because they cannot afford the insulin they need to survive,” said Rep. Michael Howard. “I am grateful for the advocacy of Minnesotans across the state who are standing up to Big Pharma and urging leaders at all levels of government to take action. It is time that we listen and move forward with these important bills to make insulin more accessible and affordable for all.” Continue reading “House to Hold Hearing on Legislation to Address Skyrocketing Cost of Insulin”

Minnesota House passes expanded background check and red flag laws

This past Wednesday, in a night full of poignant testimony in the House Public Safety Committee, the Minnesota House took one further step in joining 20 other states (plus D.C.) in passing expanded background checks that would cover all gun sales. Rep. Dave Pinto, a prosecutor in his day job, took the lead on shepherding HF 8 through committee. HF 8 takes the long overdue step in closing major loopholes in Minnesota’s current background check system that allows dangerous individuals the opportunity to obtain guns by way of online or private sales. It’s not just common sense legislation that’s the morally right thing to pass, because it’s worked in other states where it’s been implemented in reducing firearm suicide and homicide rates, it’s also extremely popular among Minnesotans. How popular? 89 percent support in a 2018 poll, popular.

After the expanded background checks passed the Public Safety committee on Wednesday night, the committee then took up the other major prong in a long overdue update to MN gun laws. Namely, having Minnesota join 14 other states (plus D.C.) in having a mechanism to allow “Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” more commonly known as red flag laws. Rep. Ruth Richardson took the lead in shepherding HF 9 through committee Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.

Red flag laws are a necessary component of state’s having adequate gun safety protections. They allow court petitions to temporarily remove weapons when individuals show signs of being imminently dangerous and are invaluable in prevention of mass shooting tragedies, suicides, and homicides. The same poll mentioned above shows 87 percent support among Minnesotans.

Representatives Pinto and Richardson further discuss the passage of these necessary gun law expansions on this afternoon’s episode of the Minnesota Values Podcast produced in-house (pun intended) by the Minnesota House DFL Caucus, Episode 3.

House Transportation Finance & Policy Committee Invites Community to March 5 Public Hearing in Savage

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday, March 5, the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss various transportation proposals impacting Savage, Shakopee, and the surrounding communities. Rep. Hunter Cantrell (DFL-Savage) will be presenting HF 1783, and Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) will be presenting HF 1447.

“All Minnesotans deserve a multimodal transportation system that will help them stay connected to families and opportunities, no matter where they live in our state,” said Chair Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis). “We are working to make sure all transportation options are considered for each community’s unique needs, and want to hear from communities statewide about how we can help achieve that goal for families, students, and seniors.”

What: An official field hearing of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
Who: House Transportation Committee Members
When: Tuesday, March 5, 7-9pm
Where: Savage City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN 55378

Individuals and groups that wish to provide testimony to the committee may do so by contacting John Howe at john.howe@house.mn.