As we begin the 2019 MN Legislative Session, the House DFL Majority and the robust Senate DFL Caucus are unified in their agenda to fight for policies and programs that will improve the lives and incomes of all Minnesotans, from International Falls to Albert Lea. Ensuring that Minnesota will stay committed to the path set forth by Governor Dayton’s just-concluded tenure, both DFL Legislative Caucuses are committed to expanding access to affordable health care, improving education opportunities, stable funding for transportation, and increasing economic prosperity for Minnesotans of all races and all places.
To expand access to affordable health care, both DFL Legislative Caucuses believe a great way to accomplish this is offering Minnesotans a choice to buy-in to the successful MinnesotaCare program. Passed in 1992 with bipartisan support, MinnesotaCare currently offers high-quality, lower-cost health coverage to over 100,000 Minnesotans that meet current eligibility requirements. Allowing all Minnesotans to buy-in would not only make quality, affordable health coverage an accessible reality to the thousands of Minnesotans who still don’t have realistic access to it, but it would also require no ongoing costs for Minnesota taxpayers since MinnesotaCare is funded by the premiums of those who buy coverage. In addition, both caucuses are committed to further reforms that benefit consumers instead of insurance companies, protect pre-existing conditions, and ensure that women’s health care decisions stay between them and their doctor, without politicians or employers intervening as a 3rd party.
In addition, both DFL Legislative Caucuses will continue working to make sure our schools are fully funded, that our youngest have exceptional early learning opportunities, and college/vocational school/job training is more affordable. All of our children deserve a world-class education. We would expect nothing less from the state known for the Minnesota Miracle.
Instead of the usual Minnesota GOP shifts and gimmicks we’ve come to expect with transportation funding, both DFL Legislative Caucuses are committed for a long term, comprehensive, stable funding source for our multitude of transportation needs in our cold-weather northern state. One-time money and bonding (borrowing) for projects is not sustainable. Both caucuses are putting all possible solutions on the table, including a gas tax that hasn’t been increased since 2008.
Priorities mentioned previously are all of a piece with an overarching commitment by both DFL Legislative Caucuses to an agenda of economic security for Minnesota families. Paid Family Leave and expanding access to affordable child care highlight two of many fair and common sense action items both caucuses will propose in this upcoming session to ensure Minnesotans’ economic security.
The DFL House Majority, newly-elected Governor Walz, and the robust Senate DFL Caucus have a fair and common sense agenda to ensure Minnesotans’ economic security and unify Minnesotans of all races and all places. With only a minuscule GOP edge in state Senate seats, the opportunity is there for a session as historic as the 2013-14 Legislative Session. If the Minnesota GOP decides to go back to their old, obstructive tricks, well, 2020 is just around the corner.