In This Edition:
- Update on Supplemental Budget Bills
- Seeking Common Ground in Addressing Gun Safety
- At the Capitol
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol and around the community.
Update on Supplemental Budget Bills
This week, the House passed a number of supplemental finance and policy bills that focus on the priorities of Minnesotans. We addressed everything from investing in our transportation infrastructure to Met Council reform.
Highlights include:
- Providing $385 million for transportation needs this year, using surplus funds leveraged with trunk highway bonds to repair and improve our roads and bridges
- Preventing a 7 percent cut which would affect the salaries of those who care for persons with disabilities through the Disability Waiver Rate System
- Protecting our environment by encouraging less salt use in the winter months to protect our lakes, rivers and streams
- Addressing vulnerable adult abuse and neglect, strengthening the tools the state can use against perpetrators of abuse and holding state agencies accountable for their shortcomings on maltreatment investigations
- Strengthening penalties for those who assault a peace officer and for sex offenders, including those who possess or disseminate child pornography
- Funding three new veterans homes in Minnesota with excess Stadium Reserve Funds
- Cutting the MNsure tax on health plans to help lower health care costs for Minnesotans
- Combating the opioid epidemic
- Implementing reforms to reduce potential fraud and waste in our public health care system
- Requiring state agencies to spend 3.5 percent of their IT budget to support state cybersecurity
- Implementing Met Council reforms that would add elected officials to the Council and stagger their terms
- Strengthening DWI laws, including closing loopholes regarding the operation of a snowmobile or ATV for those who have been convicted of a DWI
These bills follow the Tax Conformity bill that passed the House on Monday, and my Education/Higher Education school and student safety package which passed last week. The next step is to negotiate these measures with the Senate and Governor Dayton to develop a final agreement supported by the legislature and the governor. I will keep you updated as conference committee action begins next week.
Seeking Common Ground in Addressing Gun Safety
Throughout the session, I have heard from many concerned Eden Prairie residents regarding the issue of gun violence. There is a wide array of opinions on the matter of gun safety, but I believe we all want the assurance that Minnesota’s laws are enforced and effective at preventing criminals and those who are deemed at “extreme risk” to themselves or others from accessing guns. I support the Second Amendment, and do not agree with taking away the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners. I also believe people on all sides of this issue should come to the table for respectful, fact-based discussion about workable solutions, best practices and data-driven efforts that could actually have an impact on the crisis of gun violence.
As Education Chair, I have worked diligently on a comprehensive school safety and student mental health package that gained strong bipartisan support and will help keep our kids safe in schools. I also looked in-depth at our state’s current gun laws and attempted to identify measures that would have an impact on the safety of our citizens while protecting the constitutional rights of individuals. On Wednesday, May 2, I co-authored 2 bills with Rep. Sarah Anderson that will help keep guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous people but with a different approach than other proposals that have been introduced to date.
The first, House File 4473, would strengthen the background check process by encouraging a private gun seller to verify a buyer has the legal right to own a gun before selling. The vast majority already does this, but HF 4473 would incentivize the seller to require a background check by providing the seller immunity from prosecution if that gun was later used in a crime.
The second bill, House File 4474, is in response to a KARE 11 investigation that uncovered lax enforcement of existing law requiring the surrender of weapons by domestic abusers to local law enforcement. Our legislation further specifies how the laws prohibiting possession of guns by someone convicted of domestic abuse or subject to protection orders are to be enforced, but also ensures that individuals are given a timely hearing to preserve their due process rights.
These ideas were developed in a sincere effort to add to the discussion surrounding gun violence prevention in hopes of creating consensus and thoughtful solutions.
At the Capitol
With Joel Quie, lead Pastor from Prairie Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie. Pastor Quie offered the opening prayer for the Minnesota House on Thursday, May 3 which was also the National Day of Prayer. Fun fact: He is the son of former Governor Al Quie, and pastor at the church our family joined in 1999!
With Floyd, one of the Eden Prairie Lions who put on a fantastic pancake breakfast last Sunday. Thanks for your service to our community!
With former Governor Al Quie at a recent event.
***
If you need assistance on a matter related to state government, or have questions, comments or suggestions about what is happening in the Legislature, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. I am here to serve you!
Sincerely,
Jenifer Loon