Greetings,
Before we get down to business, let’s take a moment to applaud to a couple of local folks for jobs well done:
Congratulations to Paynesville Area Elementary School principal Dave Oehrlein for earning the Division Leadership Award from the Minnesota Elementary School Principal’s Association. We are fortunate to have talented, hardworking leaders such as Mr. Oehrlein helping our next generations grow.
Congratulations to John Howeison for being nominated to receive an award of distinction from the National Association of Small Trucking Companies. Howeison drives for Brenny Specialized and, as a nominee for this award, he is among a select few of more than 90,000 drivers in the association. That is an outstanding achievement. Now, let’s keep working to pass a transportation package that improves the roads and bridges throughout Minnesota to help John and the rest of us.
On a more serious note, please join me in praying for Gov. Mark Dayton as he faces multiple health issues. We are blessed to have top-notch medical facilities in our state and let’s wish the best for our governor.
As for other work at the Capitol, we took a big step forward Thursday by providing Minnesotans with some much-needed health insurance relief and reform.
The package, which was signed into law, provides a 25-percent premium reduction to Minnesotans who do not qualify for MNsure tax credits on the individual market. It also includes key Republican-led reforms to preserve care for those receiving life-saving treatments and increase competition and consumer choice moving forward.
Another item that has been in the news pertains to H.F. 322, a bill that says cities may sue protesters convicted of illegal assembly or a public nuisance to recover costs they incur for additional public safety services.
To be 100-percent clear, this bill does nothing to limit peaceful, lawful assembly. Our First Amendment rights to legal protest would not be diminished.
The bill is geared toward already-illegal actions, such as citizens walking onto and shutting down I-94 and I-35W in the past year. Those activities have cost local governments millions of dollars and the bill would provide them some recourse.
To reiterate, you must be convicted of breaking an existing law and infringing on other people’s rights in order for this bill to apply.
Regards,
Jeff