Dear Neighbors,
The legislative session is entering a new stage with set budget targets and the introduction of omnibus bills. It is vital that our state budget is constructed in a responsible manner so that we fund priorities that increase opportunity for all Minnesotans. Unfortunately, these targets fall far short of that objective, with tax breaks for corporate special interests, underfunded schools, and a massive cut to health care and our social safety net for Minnesotans.
This week, Jenny Peterson of Generations Healthcare Initiative along with several of her Duluth colleagues were at the State Capitol testifying against possible cuts to MinnesotaCare and an effort to shift our state health insurance exchange to the federal government. They were so impressive in their testimony that my colleague, Rep. Tina Liebling of Rochester, said there must be something special in Duluth water. Our community has tremendous compassion for others and it shows. KSTP and KARE 11 were there to capture Ms. Peterson’s remarks as well as some of mine. With the situation in Washington growing more and more unclear, discussions of the future of health care in Minnesota will continue to take center stage in St. Paul.
Great Lakes Commission
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the semiannual business meeting of the Great Lakes Commission. The new federal administration has proposed to eliminate all funding ($300 million) for initiatives to restore water quality and areas of concern in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes account for the largest freshwater system on earth, and it’s crucial that we protect this resource. In light of these proposed cuts, we were able to discuss some strategies for how to move forward to protect habitat, fight invasive species, protect water quality, and ensure viability of commercial navigation. We passed a resolution to address invasive species in ballast water and I introduced a new resolution to address emerging contaminants of concern (e.g. PBDEs, PFOAs, microplastics). I particularly want to thank Sen. Al Franken for spending time with us on these issues.
The Republican Education Budget
The education budgets were rolled out this week. It was extremely disappointing to see the Republican majority make meager investments in our students, from pre-K all the way through higher education. In fact, their proposal would completely eliminate the successful, high-demand state voluntary pre-K program. This contrasts starkly with Gov. Dayton who has proposed an additional $175 million to expand these opportunities for our youngest learners. Public K-12 students in Minnesota also fare poorly in this budget proposal, with inflationary needs not being met. With underfunding for higher education our students will likely see tuition increases for four year colleges, especially those who attend the University of Minnesota.
Minnesota has fallen to a ranking of 19th out of all 50 states for investments in students. Our state’s sound economic engine starts with first-class education opportunities so young people have the skills and knowledge they need to prepare themselves to enter a career. We simply cannot afford to continue under investing in education or we will continue to fall behind.
At Issue
I will be appearing on the “At Issue” program to discuss health care changes with Sen. Scott Jensen of Chaska. The program airs on WDIO channel 10 at 9 a.m. on Sunday; I hope you will tune in. If you’re unable to catch the show when it airs, footage will be posted online afterward.
Please continue to reach out with your thoughts on the issues that matter to you. Your input is valuable, and I’m honored to serve you in St. Paul.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Schultz
State Representative