Dear Friends,
Now that the Legislature is back from the Easter/Passover break, we’re getting started on a full plate of issues to address before adjourning May 21. Here are some updates from the Capitol:
Letter to the Leaders
On Monday, Gov. Dayton sent a letter to legislative leaders, calling on them to prioritize issues where compromise is within reach over the next couple weeks. These issues include protecting elderly and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect, ensuring the safety of our schoolchildren, and tackling the opioid crisis.
Resolving these issues quickly will bring immediate and meaningful effects for the people of Minnesota and will give us time to focus on tax, budget, and bonding legislation until the end of session.
Equal Pay Day
April 10th was Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay Day is the point in the year when the salaries of women finally catch up with men’s salaries from the previous year. In Minnesota, women earn 83 cents for every dollar a man makes, and the gap is even wider for indigenous women and women of color. We have a lot more to do to properly address this issue.
You can find more information here at the National Women’s Law Center.
Delay in Securing Minnesota’s Pension System
Minnesota’s pension system is under stress, but one bipartisan fix has already passed the Senate unanimously and Gov. Dayton indicated he would sign it once it reaches his desk. The bill cuts $6 billion in liabilities while securing the retirements of hundreds of thousands of professionals who dedicated their careers to making Minnesota a wonderful place to live.
I’ll be continuing to urge the Republican majority to bring this bill up for a vote and send it to Gov. Dayton’s desk without delay.
I’ll keep you up to date as the pension fix and budget negotiations move forward. You can read more about the bill in this MPR story.
Please don’t hesitate to keep in touch!
Sincerely,
Linda Slocum
State Representative