Dear Neighbors,
I recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. for the National Health Policy Conference hosted by Academy Health, a national organization for health services researchers, policymakers, and health care practitioners. I serve on the organization’s Council on Advocacy & Public Policy and I was able to gain insight on health care changes under the Trump administration.
Medicaid could be transformed to a state-run “block grant” program and key features of the Affordable Care Act could be repealed. The future of other federally-driven payment and delivery systems are uncertain. Reproductive health care is also at risk, with potential restrictions in federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Serving on many committees at the Legislature responsible for health policy and finance, I’ll be working to retain our successful programs that assist working families. We are now living in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous).
MNsure Special Enrollment Period
With the premium relief bill signed into law, MNsure has extended a special enrollment period for Minnesotans to apply for coverage. The deadline to enroll in coverage is February 8. Please go to MNsure.org to enroll and to receive a 25 percent discount on your premium if you qualify. If you encounter any difficulty in the enrollment process, please call my office.
Efforts to Strengthen Democracy
So far this session, I’ve introduced a series of bills to increase transparency in our elections. Every 10 years following the U.S. Census, congressional and legislative districts are redrawn, and the legislature controls this process. This can lead to gerrymandering, where the boundaries are manipulated to benefit a single party, and in doing so can separate common communities and disenfranchise voters. My bill, HF 246, would take the politics out of redistricting by giving redistricting authority to a nonpartisan commission.
Throughout the campaign, and now into his administration, President Trump has avoided accountability in an unprecedented way by failing to make his tax returns public. I have a bill, HF 634, to require that in order to be certified on the ballot in the state of Minnesota, a candidate for president or vice president must have their most recent completed tax return on file.
Finally, Minnesota has a long tradition of strong voter turnout, and in every election we top the nation, or are near the top. We should work to maintain this status. We can remove one of the biggest barriers to the act of voting by making it easier to register to vote. I’ve introduced HF 245, a common sense measure that allows Minnesotans to automatically register to vote when applying for a driver’s license.
Town Hall Listening Session
Here is another reminder about the Town Hall Listening Session coming up on Saturday, February 18. I’m pleased to announce that we will be joined by Myron Frans, the commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget. He will be on hand to explain details of Governor Dayton’s proposed budget, as well as take any questions you may have. I hope you can join us.
WHAT: SD7 Town Hall Listening Session
WHO: Rep. Jennifer Schultz, Rep. Liz Olson, Sen. Erik Simonson, MMB Commissioner Myron Frans
WHERE: Duluth Children’s Museum, 115 S 29th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55806
WHEN: Saturday, February 18th at 10:00 a.m – noon (one hour for public comment/testimony)
Today when I checked my mail, I saw many postcards from constituents advocating for civil rights, public safety, education, health care, and the environment. I can assure you that your voices are being heard; keep speaking up. Contact me with any questions or feedback on issues that matter to you. Feel free to write or call me anytime.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Schultz
State Representative