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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Joyce Peppin (R)

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Happy Fourth of July!

Friday, July 1, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you have a wonderful holiday and nice long-weekend with friends, family, food and fireworks!

We are blessed to live in the United States and have the freedoms we do. The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate our nation as well as the brave men and women who have fought to protect our freedoms since the founding of our country. We are blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Before we head into a long-weekend, I thought I would share the latest news from St. Paul.

Special Session Negotiations Stall

Legislative leaders met with Governor Dayton last week to continue talks about a potential Special Session, but no new news came out of that meeting. I am disappointed that the governor is holding a bipartisan tax bill hostage for a long list of additional demands, and seems to be showing little flexibility in the give and take of negotiations.

Should any additional Special Session news come forward, I will share that information with you.

Another Blow for MNsure

It seems like every few months, a new story comes forward about our health care exchange, MNsure, and the troubles it is facing. Last week, it came in the news that Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to withdraw the bulk of its plans from the individual market including MNsure.

Obamacare is once again failing us, and now more than 100,000 Minnesotans will have to find new health care coverage next year. President Obama and the architects of MNsure promised people that if you liked your health plan and your doctor you can keep it. That has proven to be a falsehood over and over again.

Tied in with skyrocketing premium and deductible costs across the state, many families are struggling to cover the cost of health care. More frustrating still is that efforts to rein in MNsure and save people money, like legislation introduced earlier this year to cut the MNsure tax on health plans in half, is met with strong opposition by DFL legislators.

In the first two years of MNsure, the average cost of a modest health insurance policy has gone up $4,800 per year for a family of four in the Twin Cities, and even more in other parts of the state. What’s more, over 75 percent of people who buy health insurance on their own do not receive any financial assistance from MNsure. I will continue to advocate for solutions that reduce the cost of health care for Minnesota families.

Peppin's MinnTriv

Thank you to everyone who participated in the last Peppin's MinnTriv quiz!

"Whalan's Stand Still Parade" was the answer to the trivia question: What annual event in Minnesota is famous for having its participants stand in place?

Congratulations to Mark Van Oosbree from Maple Grove for having the first correct response.

Here is this week's question: Minneapolis has the largest population in our state, but what incorporated town in Minnesota has the fewest people and how many people live there according to the 2010 census?

Reply to this email with your answer, and I'll share the winner of the Peppin MinnTriv question in my next legislative update.

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As always, if you have any questions or concerns on an issue relating to state government, my office is available to help. My direct line is 651-296-7806. My email address is rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn and my mailing address is Room 459 State Office Building, 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Joyce

**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/34A