Dear Neighbors,
The legislative session is shorter than usual this year and the first committee deadline is approaching on March 22. While spring is arriving outside, there’s a lot changing at the Capitol too. Here are some updates:
Veterans Day on the Hill
Veterans visited the Capitol on Monday for Veterans Day on the Hill. This year’s focus was on helping surviving spouses keep their homes, stopping predatory lending against veterans’ benefits, and increasing access to the outdoors for disabled vets. Thanks to all who attended and took time to meet with legislators. It was great to see so many Veterans and advocates working to make sure their voices are heard.
Dayton’s Final State of the State
On Wednesday night, Governor Dayton gave his final State of the State address. The speech was a reminder that when we invest in Minnesotans and build on what we value as a state, we can achieve a whole lot. In the past eight years we’ve gone from deficits and borrowing money from our schools to surpluses and record investments that have made Minnesota the best state in the country.
These rankings are very nice, but for many immigrant families, families of color, Native Americans and others, many times Minnesota does not seem like the “#1 state”. They continue to struggle to improve the quality of their education, healthcare and employment opportunities. So I was glad to hear the Governor call on all Minnesotans to be more inclusive and to break down barriers to accept people of all races, religions, and cultural backgrounds. You can read that portion of his speech below:
“I say again that the credit belongs to the people of Minnesota. We ARE our people, but we’re only as good as all of us are. That means ALL of us, in a state with rapidly changing demographics, in which 19 percent of our residents are now women, men, and children of color.
That is a very different complexion from years ago, and some folks still resist the change. If we can educate them to move beyond racism, religious bigotry, and other hatreds, they will see that this new diversity is crucial to our state’s future success.
There are simply not enough native Minnesotans to drive our future economic growth. There are already too few unemployed workers to fill our state’s current job vacancies. And that labor shortage is expected to become even more acute. The additional workers we need to expand our economy must come from newcomers to our state.
Adjusting to this new reality is hard for some Minnesotans. But trying to push back Minnesota fifty years is neither a realistic option nor a good idea. I want to be VERY clear. Minnesota is an inclusive and welcoming place for all, and we all stand together in making that statement to everybody in Minnesota.
During the past few years, our state government has led by example. Since 2015, the percent of state employees with disabilities has grown by 40 percent; the percent, who are men and women of color, has increased by 50 percent. That is important progress, but we have much more to do to ensure that our state government better includes and serves the rich diversity of our state.”
Speaking at the Wilder Foundation
Before I attended the Governor’s State of the State Address on Wednesday, I took time to stop by the James J. Hill House to keynote the Wilder Foundation’s Neighborhood Leadership Program 2017-2018 Cohort Event. It was great to see so many people engaged to make our community better!
Protecting MN Seniors from Abuse
Last year, the Star Tribune published a series that detailed serious abuses, sexual assault, and other mistreatment going uninvestigated in Minnesota’s senior care facilities. After investigations by AARP and the Office of the Legislative Auditor, Governor Dayton joined legislators to announce a broad set of reforms and investments to hold providers guilty of abuse accountable and protect the health, safety, and dignity of seniors and vulnerable adults.
While significant changes have been made and the backlog of uninvestigated claims have been investigated, I’m committed to making sure we do everything we can to ensure this never happens again. Our seniors deserve to live with safety, security and dignity. We owe it to families to not delay and take action on meaningful fixes now.
Supplemental Budget
Today, Governor Dayton released his supplemental budget proposal. In the coming weeks, the House and Senate will work through his plan and come up with their own supplemental budget proposals. I’ll keep you updated as we work through the process.
Keep in Touch
Please contact me during the legislative session on the matters that are important to you and your family. I can be reached at 651-296-5158 or Rep.Rena.Moran@house.mn .
Together, we are stronger!
Sincerely,
Rena Moran
Deputy Minority Leader
State Representative – District 65A