Dear Neighbor,
It has been another very busy week in the House, with Friday marking the second of three bill deadlines.
The Ag. Policy Committee which I chair conducted its final regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday and a series of bills to expand shrimp farming in Minnesota was among those we heard. The legislation would provide tax incentives to entrepreneurs looking to enter the world of shrimp farming. Groups are expressing interest in bringing this new industry to Minnesota, but start-up costs are high.
One group that is looking to set up an operation in southwestern Minnesota has an interesting concept and business plan, so it will be interesting to see what transpires in what would be a whole new avenue of business in the ag. industry.
As for other bills, one that I am co-authoring would create a statewide pilot program to provide, repair, and maintain motor vehicles to help people in need get to work. This bill looks to emulate what has been so successful with the Douglas County Car Care Program, a nonprofit corporation that has a mission of lifting transportation barriers that challenge many citizens. Click here for more on the Douglas County program, including information on how to help out with this initiative.
On Monday, the House approved a bill designed to provide double-digit reductions on health insurance premiums by mitigating the impact of high-risk consumers in the individual market.
The Minnesota Premium Security Plan would establish a state-based reinsurance program administered by the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, which for more than 40 years ran a high-risk pool that brought stability to the individual market and ensured the sickest Minnesotans had access to coverage. Projections indicate the move could reduce premiums by approximately 18 percent.
Our state had the reputation of being a national leader in health insurance but, unfortunately, some of the good services we provided were diminished with the implementation of Obamacare and MNsure. This bill would help us restore some of what was lost, increasing access to insurance and reducing costs for the people in our state who need it most.
Budget news should be coming soon from the Capitol. We have been waiting for the governor to put out a revised version of his budget proposal, updated with information from the latest economic forecast we received earlier this month. Once the governor brings forward his revisions (maybe as soon as Friday), the House will come forward with its own plan for the new biennium. I will pass along more as details emerge.
Sincerely,
Paul