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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Keith Franke (R)

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News from Rep. Keith Franke 8-2-2017

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Dear Neighbors,

I wanted to update you on the groundwater situation in Cottage Grove. As you know, there’ve been recent questions over health concerns and the watering ban which ended yesterday. We all want to ensure that whoever is responsible for the industrial chemicals in the groundwater is held responsible, not you, the taxpayer.

I’ve been in contact with local officials, state officials, and 3M about this issue. I’ve even reached out to the governor on several occasions, but haven’t heard back. For me, this is bigger than politics, and I’d hope that we can work together to find solutions to this problem. As I hear more, I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

New Laws

As you know, many of the bills we passed became law on July 1. Many others just took effect yesterday, including my bill to help eliminate HIV/AIDS in our state. I was proud of the bipartisan work it took to get this bill passed, and look forward to seeing all the positive effects this bill can have in the future. Here’s a link if you’d like to see other new laws that started August 1.

National Night Out

It was great to be out hitting all the National Night Out events that I could yesterday. There were so many wonderful people and awesome volunteers. Thanks to everyone for your invites and conversations; there just wasn't enough time to get to them all. Here’s a couple photos from my stops.

House Image

House Image

House Image

Health Care Update

On Monday, the Department of Commerce released preliminary rates for the 2018 individual insurance market. The news was certainly encouraging as we saw early positive signs from reforms we instituted this year. It could be the first time in four years where Minnesotans aren’t facing double-digit premium increases.

Even before I became a state representative, I heard from residents in our area who were hurt by skyrocketing insurance premiums. The preliminary rates are a sign that our reforms could have a huge impact on family budgets throughout the state.

Capitol Celebration

Next weekend, the state is hosting a party to celebrate the Grand Reopening of our Capitol. It’s been undergoing a renovation over the last few years, and the results are amazing. The party is August 11-13th and includes games for kids, tours, live music, and more. Bring the whole family to the free event! If you want more information on events and schedules, please click here.

Please Contact Me

As always, please call or email my office if you ever need anything. I’m usually back in the district and would love to schedule a meeting. Just give me a call and we’ll set something up.

Best,

Keith