Dear Neighbors,
Last week it was Groundhog Day and déjà vu all over again at the Capitol with all of the ways that House Republicans were trying to lower people’s wages and take away their health care to help special corporate interests.
Two committees passed a bill called “preemption” that would block local communities from setting their own policies for workers. The GOP bill would stop communities from passing policies that protect and support workers like paid sick leave, family leave, or a higher minimum wage. This legislation will also revoke sick time for hundreds of thousands of people working in the Twin Cities.
Tonight the House Republicans are pushing legislation to bypass the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) because one of its core function is to protect consumers. The bills are attacking renewable energy production in greater Minnesota and are taking away consumer protections at the PUC. This leaves families and small businesses to foot the bill for corporate power generation.
This is the wrong direction for working families. Right now we should be focusing on improving our roads, infrastructure, and transit systems, as well as creating more opportunities for Minnesotans, not less.
I will be opposing it and anything else that doesn’t put Minnesota families first. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Nelson
State Representative