Tag: Minnesota House
Minnesota House DFL Press Conference October 28, 2019
Speaker Hortman appoints legislators to work group on emergency insulin access
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Late Friday, October 18th, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman appointed Representatives Michael Howard and Tina Liebling to a work group tasked with resolving the differences between the House and Senate insulin proposals. Minority Leader Kurt Daudt appointed himself to represent his caucus.
“I’m pleased that we are moving ahead with a work group to address Minnesotans’ need for emergency access to insulin,” said Speaker Hortman. “The House DFL remains ready to complete this work as soon as possible. It’s long past time we got this done.”
Speaker Hortman asked for a report after 60 days. A letter from Speaker Hortman to Majority Leader Gazelka can be viewed below.
House DFL Statement on Insulin Legislation
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Governor Tim Walz called on Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka to take action on insulin affordability and begin negotiations with the House. In an October 1st letter to Gov. Walz, House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced that she asked Representatives Howard, Liebling, Halverson, and Mann to serve on an Emergency Access to Insulin Work Group to meet with the Senate and resolve the differences between the House and Senate bills.
Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements:
“Minnesotans need and deserve access to emergency insulin — which the Senate bill doesn’t provide,” said Speaker Hortman. “The House DFL remains ready to work with Senate Republicans and the Walz Administration to find a solution that serves the needs of Minnesotans and holds the pharmaceutical industry accountable. Lives are at stake and it’s time for Senate Republicans to come to the table and begin working on a compromise with us. Governor Walz and I have named the individuals who can start working on this right away. We continue to wait for Senator Gazelka to name which Senators will speak for the Senate in a work group so we can commence negotiations on a compromise. Simply reiterating that he has taken a position different from ours doesn’t help anyone get emergency access to insulin.” Continue reading “House DFL Statement on Insulin Legislation”
Rep. Tina Liebling announces December 2nd committee hearing with DHS Commissioner Harpstead
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Representative Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester), chair of the Health and Human Services Finance Division, today announced a committee hearing on Monday, December 2nd at 10 a.m. in the State Office Building, Room 200.
During the hearing, Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead will talk about the findings of her 90-day review of the agency and how she plans to move forward, and answer questions from legislators.
In a letter dated September 4, 2019, Speaker Melissa Hortman communicated her intention to give the new DHS commissioner 90 days to investigate the issues she sees in the department, and then report on what she has discovered, and provide her recommendations on how to proceed. December 2nd marks the 91st day since the commissioner’s hiring and her first opportunity to communicate her findings.
What: Committee hearing to discuss Commissioner Harpstead’s 90-day review of DHS
When: Monday, December 2, 2019, 10:00 AM
Where: State Office Building, Room 200, 100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard., St Paul, MN 55155
Climate Action Caucus Applauds Clean Car Standards
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Climate Action Caucus released the following statement in response to Governor Walz’s announcement that Minnesota will adopt clean car standards:
“We applaud Governor Walz’s decision to make Minnesota the first Midwestern state to adopt clean car standards. Promoting fuel-efficient and electric vehicles is one of the most effective ways for our state to combat climate change. It also has significant economic and public health benefits. Minnesotans will see increased consumer choices, savings at the pump, and cleaner air. We are grateful for Governor Walz’s leadership and looking forward to working with him on further efforts to address the climate crisis.”
The Climate Action Caucus includes Reps. Patty Acomb (DFL – Minnetonka), Kristin Bahner (DFL – Maple Grove), Robert Bierman (DFL – Apple Valley), Jeff Brand (DFL – St. Peter), Hunter Cantrell (DFL – Savage), Shelly Christensen (DFL – Stillwater), Raymond Dehn (DFL – Minneapolis), Heather Edelson (DFL – Edina), Steve Elkins (DFL – Bloomington), Peter Fischer (DFL – Maplewood), Mike Freiberg (DFL – Golden Valley), Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), Alice Hausman (DFL – St. Paul), Kaohly Her (DFL – St. Paul), Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis), Michael Howard (DFL – Richfield), John Huot (DFL – Rosemount), Ginny Klevorn (DFL – Plymouth), Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), Mohamud Noor (DFL – Minneapolis), John Persell (DFL – Bemidji), Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), Laurie Pryor (DFL – Minnetonka), Steve Sandell (DFL – Woodbury), Zack Stephenson (DFL – Coon Rapids), Jean Wagenius (DFL – Minneapolis), Ami Wazlawik (DFL – White Bear Lake), and Jay Xiong (DFL – St. Paul).
Minnesota House releases agenda for October 2019 Mini-Session in Winona
Saint Paul, Minnesota — The Minnesota House of Representatives today released the full agenda for the mini-session being held October 2-4, 2019 in southeastern Minnesota. The mini-session events will take place in the City of Winona and surrounding communities. Fourteen mini-sessions occurred from 1987-1997, with this year marking the 30th anniversary of the 1989 mini-session in Winona.
“Minnesotans deserve a Legislature that is easy to connect with and that listens,” said Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman. “The mini-session is part of our ongoing effort to make the Legislature more accessible and responsive to Minnesotans. The Minnesota House of Representatives is looking forward to spending time with people from southeastern Minnesota. I’m also hopeful that we’ll further a bipartisan spirit with Democrats and Republicans traveling together to listen and learn.”
“Returning to the tradition of mini-sessions will help to better bring the experiences of Minnesotans from outside of the Twin Cities to the Legislature,” said Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona). “The hearings, tours, and presentations being held in Winona and the surrounding communities aim to highlight the economic needs of southeastern Minnesota, and I look forward to sharing our city with my colleagues.” Continue reading “Minnesota House releases agenda for October 2019 Mini-Session in Winona”
Statement from House DFL on Senate GOP insulin proposal
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Representative Michael Howard, chief author of the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act, released the following statements on the Senate Republican insulin proposal.
“Minnesotans have asked for legislation to provide emergency insulin to those who need it while holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable — which is why the Minnesota House passed the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act,” said Speaker Hortman. “While I appreciate that Senate Republicans have put a proposal forward, it is disappointing that this work was done without input from the advocates most directly impacted by insulin costs and instead with the pharmaceutical industry. House DFLers will continue to hold conversations with community members. We will have any proposed modifications to the legislation we already passed ready for consideration at our hearing on September 26th. We stand ready to partner with the Governor and the Senate to provide an emergency insulin program to Minnesotans as soon as possible. There is no need to wait until next February for the regular session. Minnesotans need emergency insulin now.” Continue reading “Statement from House DFL on Senate GOP insulin proposal”
Speaker Hortman: House DFLers will have insulin bill ready by end of September
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House DFLers are holding four Community Conversations outside of the Capitol in September to listen to Minnesotans impacted by the high cost of insulin. On Thursday, September 26th at 1 p.m., the Health and Human Services Finance Division will hold a formal public hearing in Room 200 of the State Office Building to share ideas from the Community Conversations and discuss the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman released the following statement:
“We are spending the month of September listening to Minnesotans about their experiences trying to obtain affordable insulin. During the 2019 session we passed legislation in the Minnesota House to provide emergency insulin to Minnesotans who need it. At the hearing on September 26th, we will discuss our proposed legislation to address this public health emergency.
“Minnesotans shouldn’t lose their lives because they can’t afford the lifesaving medications they need, like insulin. House DFLers are ready to get this done. It shouldn’t have to wait until next year.”
A handout listing the Community Conversations and HHS Finance Committee hearing is available here:
State Lawmakers Hold Bipartisan Roundtable to Address Soaring Cost of Insulin
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Legislators, advocates, and Minnesotans with Type 1 diabetes met today at the Capitol for the first in a series of community conversations to discuss solutions to the high cost of insulin. In the coming weeks, House DFLers will hold more conversations outside of the Capitol to listen to Minnesotans impacted by the high cost of insulin. Details for each event will be announced after they are finalized.
“Minnesotans are rightly demanding that we take action to address a life and death issue facing Minnesotans who can’t afford the insulin they need to survive – it’s time for all for us to step up,” said Rep. Michael Howard (DFL – Richfield), author of the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act. “Insulin manufacturers that are profiting from the pain of Minnesotans need to step up. Senate Republican leaders that refuse to engage on this bill need to step up. We can’t rest until we pass this bill because lives are literally on the line.”
This year, Rep. Howard introduced the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act to establish an emergency supply of insulin for Minnesotans who cannot afford their insulin, to be paid for by pharmaceutical companies who are profiting. The House approved the bill – named for a Richfield resident who tragically died after being forced to ration his insulin due to high costs – as part of its Health and Human Services budget. However, the measure stalled in the Senate. Continue reading “State Lawmakers Hold Bipartisan Roundtable to Address Soaring Cost of Insulin”