Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jenifer Loon (R)

Back to profile

Legislative Update from Rep. Jenifer Loon

Friday, June 15, 2018

In This Edition:

  • Health Care Reforms are Lowering Costs
  • Bonding Bill
  • Pension Bill
  • Thank You for Coming to My Town Hall
  • Congratulations to our EPHS Seniors!
  • In the Community

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol and around the community.

Health Care Reforms are Lowering Costs

Today, Minnesotans received some great news after the Minnesota Department of Commerce released preliminary rates for the 2019 individual insurance market. For the second consecutive year, Republican-led legislative reforms have helped reduce or hold flat individual market health insurance rates—a significant turnaround after several years of double-digit premium increases including nearly 60 percent in 2017. 

All five of the carriers on the individual market are projected to decrease premiums next year, with average preliminary rates dropping between 3 and 12.4 percent.

From helping lower costs, to implementing policies to increase choice and protect consumers, our health care reforms are having a positive impact in Minnesota, mitigating some of the harm done by the creation of MNsure and the Affordable Care Act to those who purchase their own insurance.

Bonding Bill

I am pleased to share that the governor acted positively on our bipartisan bonding bill, which included $825 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction projects statewide. Throughout session, House Republicans remained focused on a responsibly sized bonding bill that funded our citizens’ shared priorities including roads and bridges, water projects and asset preservation.

Highlights include:

  • My $25 million initiative for schools to make safety improvements to their facilities
  • $178 million in asset preservation
  • $123 million for water-related projects
  • $208 million for higher education construction, including $79.4 million for the University of Minnesota and $129 million for Minnesota State
  • $32 million for three new veterans homes in Greater Minnesota
  • $541 million for transportation (including trunk highway bonds)
  • $28 million for mental health crisis centers

Finally, for Eden Prairie, the rail crossing safety upgrade and pathway improvements near the high school I authored will move forward.

Pensions Bill

Reform of our public employee pensions was another important bill signed into law by Governor Dayton recently.

This new law is expected to save Minnesota taxpayers $57 million in fiscal year 2019 and $263 million in the next biennium. Furthermore, according to Minnesota Management and Budget, this bipartisan legislation will eliminate $3.4 billion from the state's unfunded pension liability, improving the sustainability of pensions for police, volunteer firefighters, teachers, and public employees.

For teachers in particular, this was critical to ensure the stability of their pensions and reduce unfunded liabilities for school districts. The Teachers Retirement Association’s liabilities are reduced by over $2 billion with this legislation, and the Saint Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association’s liabilities are reduced by almost $100 million.

Eden Prairie’s firefighters also had an important provision included in the pension bill regarding lump sum distributions for those retiring from our volunteer, paid on call service. This is a long sought reform that will help our relief association, and I am proud to have authored this provision in the pension bill for the brave men and women who keep our community safe.

Thank You for Coming to My Town Hall!

House Image

Over the last two years, we have accomplished many positive initiatives for the families and taxpayers of Eden Prairie, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who attended my town hall, and brought to me their comments, questions and input and contributed to a well-rounded discussion.

After providing a brief summary of the highlights of the Legislature's actions, including significant investments in our students and schools, substantial tax relief, and historic investments in our transportation infrastructure achieved over the past two years, most of the time was devoted to topics raised by constituents including higher education and workforce preparation, the taxation of Social Security benefits, early childhood education, and efforts to stop texting and driving.

It’s a privilege to work for our community, and I will continue to advocate for the people and priorities of Eden Prairie at the Capitol!

Congratulations to our EPHS Seniors!

Congratulations to Eden Prairie High School’s Class of 2018! I wish you well as you start the next chapter of your life. You’ve made your community very proud, and I know that you all have bright futures ahead of you. Well done!

In the Community

Although the legislative session is over, I remain available to communicate or meet with constituents regarding issues important to you, and I hope you will stay in touch.  Also, with so many great summer festivals and activities in Eden Prairie this summer, I look forward to seeing many of you around our community at these events.

One big local celebration is Eden Prairie’s Fourth of July celebration. We have the best fireworks around, so I hope you and your family will head to Round Lake Park on July 4th for bingo, music, fireworks and fun activities for the whole family!

You can check out all of the good things happening on July 3 and July 4 on Eden Prairie’s community calendar.

***

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