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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL)

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Capitol Update - February 3, 2017

Friday, February 3, 2017

Dear Neighbors,

Much of my work down here in St. Paul is focused on removing barriers for Minnesota families to succeed in this economy. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ll soon introduce a bill to provide paid family and medical leave to all Minnesotans. We’re the only industrialized country on the planet that doesn’t offer this, and currently, just 13 percent of Minnesota workers have access to it through their employer. What’s more befuddling is that Minnesota companies who have no problem doing business over in Europe are required to offer a year of leave in some cases, yet aren’t required to offer a single day in Minnesota. Wouldn’t you think they would want to offer it here at home?

Wednesday night in the House Jobs Committee, we heard a bill that while intended to expand paid leave for new parents, would not really be effective in doing so. This bill would give a tax credit for up to 25 percent of wages lost when out on leave following birth or adoption of a child. This isn’t the answer, because many employees would be ineligible, and they’d need to wait up to a full year to see the tax credit. When you’re struggling to get by paycheck to paycheck, waiting so long simply doesn’t work. In my estimation, this bill could cost the state coffers up to $420 million per year while not bringing us anywhere near addressing the problem.

Last night in the Jobs Committee, the assault on working Minnesotans took a more aggressive form, with a bill aimed at preventing communities from setting their own standards for employee benefits. Under this proposal, local units of government would be prohibited from having project labor agreements, or requiring things like paid family and medical leave and earned sick and safe time. Potentially, “Buy American” provisions could also be in jeopardy of disappearing. Such a measure puts us backward from a new social contract my generation needs as we transition from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. I spoke out strongly against this measure, and you can watch the video here.

House Image

As a legislature, we should be looking for ways to expand opportunities for hard working Minnesotans to get a leg up, and not expanding ways we can keep putting the squeeze to them. With the House GOP in the majority, and corporate special interests such as the big bankers and the state chamber of commerce testifying in favor of the bill, just like they testified against our unemployment extension last year, it’s not hard to see why this keeps happening. If some of my colleagues are concerned that different cities having different benefits ordinances makes doing business too difficult, they still have some time to sign onto my bill providing paid family and medical leave statewide for all workers. I’d welcome their support.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving these updates, they can sign up at my House webpage here. Also, please don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions, comments, or ideas.

Sincerely,

Jason Metsa

State Representative