Dear Neighbors,
We’re back at work in St. Paul for the 2017 legislative session. It’s an honor to have this responsibility serving the Iron Range at the State Capitol, and I’ll keep fighting to create jobs, expand our economy, ensure we have high quality schools, and protect the way of life we all value.
Senator Tomassoni and I have hit the ground running by introducing bills to address overdue, unfinished business from the past session. A bonding bill didn’t quite make it over the finish line last year, and I’m pushing hard to get one on the table soon. With no bonding bill, many important Range projects remain in limbo. These include the colocation of the Arrowhead Equal Opportunity Agency and the Range Mental Health Center, the Northeast Minnesota Water Supply System for Aurora, Biwabik, and the town of White, gap funding for Highway 53, renovations at the Miners Memorial Building in Virginia, and others. These projects represent not just smart investment in infrastructure, but also help create good paying jobs.
We also can’t lose focus of the things Minnesotans are counting on us to take care of immediately. One of these is providing relief to the approximately 125,000 folks who purchase health insurance on the individual market, and have been seeing soaring premiums. Governor Dayton has a plan to provide a 25 percent rebate to these individuals, and I think we should pass this right away. The relief plan being rushed by the House GOP, however, contains many substantial policy changes which haven’t been given thorough vetting. While we definitely need to consider reforms to our health insurance system, this package isn’t ready for prime time, and shouldn’t get in the way of giving premium relief now. I hope we can get this done in short order.
Another priority of mine this session will be to renew the fight for Paid Family and Medical Leave for all Minnesotans. A version of this initiative passed the State Senate last year, but unfortunately got dropped during the end of session deal-making. It’s unacceptable that we’re the only industrialized nation in the world without such a policy in place to ensure folks can take care of a newborn, or a sick or elderly family member.
Unfortunately, some powerful special interests remain opposed to this. I try to work across the aisle to find solutions whenever I can, and considering Minnesotans of all political stripes support this policy, it’s time for us to act. Many large companies in the state including Target, 3M, and Cargill are expanding their leave policies, and I think it only makes sense that all workers have this available to them.
I encourage you to keep in touch with me as the session progresses. Feel free to send me an email or call me at the Capitol any time at 651-296-0170 with questions or comments. It’s an honor to serve you in the House of Representatives.
Sincerely,
Jason Metsa
State Representative