Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update from the Capitol.
In this Issue:
- HHS Budget Bill
- Community Events
- Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday Weekend!
- Peppin’s MinnTriv
HHS Budget Bill
Last Friday, the House acted on the last of its budget bills before we enter into conference committees to negotiate with the Senate. The Health and Human Services Omnibus bill, which was approved on a 74-53 vote, focuses first on protecting our state’s disabled and vulnerable citizens.
Health and human services is the second largest spending area in our state budget (after K-12 education), and spending in this budget category has been rising faster than many others.
The bill preserves a 7-percent increase for home and community-based caregivers, relieves the financial burden on families with disabled or very sick children, increases shelter and transitional housing availability for sexually-exploited youth, and establishes a support program and respite care for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
Additionally, the bill also repeals our broken health care exchange, MNsure which has struggled since its launch several years ago. It also requires the verification of eligibility status for Minnesotans on public health programs to find cost savings and ensure integrity within our public programs.
In all, the bill spends $13.7 billion. This bill ensures our state is funding our shared priorities and protecting our most vulnerable, while also enacting commonsense cost-saving measures.
I will keep you updated on this and other omnibus bills as they continue to move through the legislative process and negotiations.
Community Events
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Memorial Blood Drive at the Rogers Community Center on Saturday, April 22nd from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Contact Dale Scherber at 763-428-5163 to make an appointment. Give blood and save a life!
Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday Weekend!
The legislature is on break this week for the Passover and Easter holidays, and will return on Tuesday. My best wishes for a Happy Easter and a Happy Passover to those celebrating this week. Also, if you’re traveling over the weekend, please stay safe on the roads!
Peppin’s MinnTriv
Thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s MinnTriv Question. The question was: What is the mascot of Minnesota’s largest township? The answer was the White Bear of White Bear Township which has 11,013 residents.
Congratulations to Carl Knapp from Rogers for having the first correct response.
Here is this week’s question:
Duke from Cormorant, MN holds what leadership position in the town?
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