Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update from the Capitol.
In this Issue:
- Senate File 1 Signed into Law
- Governor’s Budget
- National School Choice Week
- MCCL March for Life
- Listening Sessions Scheduled
- Community Events
- Peppin’s MinnTriv
Health Care Reform Legislation Signed into Law
Great news this week for Minnesotans who have been struggling under the burden of unaffordable health insurance premiums. On Thursday, the House and Senate both passed Senate File 1, which provides a 25 percent premium reduction to eligible Minnesotans for 2017 that will be administered through insurance companies. For Minnesotans receiving a portion of the $312 million designated for premium relief, there are also additional residency verification requirements to ensure money is going to eligible recipients who live in our state.
What’s more, House Republicans pushed hard for continuity of care, and this bill will allow people with serious health conditions losing access to their doctor to extend their coverage for up to 120 days. Additionally, the bill includes a number of critical reforms that will begin to turn around our struggling health care market, increase competition, improve transparency and end surprise billing.
While this isn’t a bill that will solve all of our health insurance market woes caused by Obamacare and MNsure, this is an excellent first step to begin addressing our state’s health care crisis. The bill has been signed into law by Governor Dayton.
Governor’s Budget
Governor Dayton unveiled his budget plans for the next biennium this week. With a $1.4 billion surplus, I am disappointed to see he is proposing only $125 million in tax cuts and $1.6 billion in new taxes and fees, including an increase in the gas tax and metro area sales tax. The total budget is also an approximately 10 percent increase over the FY 2016-17 budget.
House Republicans will put together a budget proposal later this session after the February forecast is released that will fund our shared priorities, limit government growth and include more significant tax relief for families and hardworking taxpayers across the state.
Also, I know many of you saw the news this week related to the governor’s cancer diagnosis. I hope you’ll join me in sending best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery to Governor Dayton.
National School Choice Week
This week is National School Choice Week. Providing every child with a world-class education and improving student learning means giving families the choice to find the education options that work best for their child whether that be public, private, charter, religious, magnet, homeschooling or via online education options.
In an effort to provide Minnesota kids with more education opportunities, the Equity and Opportunity Scholarship Act began moving through the legislative process this week in the House. The bill would authorize the creation of opportunity scholarships for low and middle income children that would be funded by contributions to non-profit scholarship granting organizations. Similar programs are currently available in 17 other states, including our neighbor states Iowa and South Dakota.
As a legislator and a parent, I want to work on policies that give our kids the best chance to succeed academically, and part of that means having access to schools and learning environments that work best for individual students. I am supportive of the Equity and Opportunity Scholarship Act and hope to see it signed into law this year.
MCCL March for Life
Addressing the crowd at the MCCL (Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life) March for Life last weekend.
It was great to see so many Minnesotans come to rally at the Capitol last weekend, advocating for the rights of the unborn. I was proud to be a keynote speaker at this annual rally for life. I and other pro-life legislators of both parties will continue to fight for policies that end taxpayer funded abortions, promote adoption, stand up for the unborn, and protect women’s health and well-being.
Listening Sessions Scheduled
With Rep. Dennis Smith at the Maple Grove Listening Session on Saturday
Thank you to everyone who attended the Maple Grove Listening Session last Saturday! It was great to hear from you about your priorities for state government, and the input and ideas you shared were invaluable. As a reminder, I will be hosting two more listening sessions in the coming weeks and invite you to attend.
Here are the details:
What: Rogers Listening Session w/ Sen. Warren Limmer
When: Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Rogers Community Room
21201 Memorial Drive
Rogers, MN 55374
What: Dayton Listening Session
When: Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Dayton Activity Center
18461 Dayton Street
Dayton, MN 55327
I hope to see you there!
Community Events
Eastman Nature Center at the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton is hosting a Winter Beach Party on Saturday, January 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Build sand sculptures on an indoor “beach,” dig for seashells, “fish” in a pond, race minnows and meet live animals. Beach games and face painting will also be provided. Cost of $5.00 for kids age 2-17, $3.00 for adults. See http://bit.ly/2kzfQk0 for more information.
The Rogers Seniors annual chili/soup fundraising dinner is Sunday, January 29, 3:30-6:00 p.m. at the Rogers Community Room, 21201 Memorial Drive. A bowl of chicken wild rice soup or chili is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children. Crackers, corn bread, cheese, sour cream and dessert all part of the meal.
Peppin’s MinnTriv
There was no correct answer to last week’s MinnTriv Question. The question was: What Minnesota politician famously stole legislation that would have designated Saint Peter our capital and hid out for the remainder of the session in an attempt to prevent the bill from becoming law? The answer was Joe Rolette.
Here is this week’s question:
In 1866, a man named Cadwallader Washburn built a machine that would later lead to the formation of a major Minnesota company. What was the machine, and what was the company?
Respond to this email with your answer, and you could be featured in next week’s email update!
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In order to best represent our communities, I need to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time. 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.
Sincerely,
Joyce
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/34A