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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL)

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2013 Sessio Update: Marriage Equality, Health Insurance Exchange and Minnesota Orchestra Audit

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

March 13, 2013

 

Dear friends,

We are fast approaching policy deadlines—meaning bills need to pass through all of the committees that need to review them.  This means lots of extra committee time, and often many committees meeting at the same time keeping legislators moving.  Last week, the Health Insurance Exchange passed off the House and Senate floor and is expected to be up for a final vote in the coming days.  As you may have heard, the Marriage Equality bill passed its first and only House Committee Tuesday night.  In addition, 100 legislators have urged an audit of the Minnesota Orchestra Association in light of the ongoing musician’s lockout.

Please check out my video update below to see what I’ve been working on at the Capitol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBL7S_I2YUI&feature=youtu.be.

Marriage Equality Bill

A bill to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples was passed out of Civil Law Committee Tuesday evening on a party line vote of 10-7.  The bill is expected to wait on the General Register to be heard sometime towards the end of session once the budget bills are completed.  I am a co-author of this legislation to provide civil rights and equal treatment for same-sex Minnesotans.  The Senate has also passed their marriage equality bill out of committee. 

Health Insurance Exchange Passes Off House Floor

Last Monday, the House passed the Health Insurance Exchange.  The exchange is an online marketplace where Minnesotans will be able to compare and purchase health insurance.  If Minnesota fails to pass this legislation by March 31, the Federal government will step in and establish a one-size-fits-all exchange to comply with the Federal Affordable Care Act guidelines.  We have chosen to implement our own exchange so that it is tailored to the needs and expectations of Minnesota families.

The Health Insurance Exchange provides Minnesota an opportunity to once again lead the nation in healthcare.  By setting up our own exchange, Minnesota has created a more efficient and cost-effective system compared to the one-size-fits-all Federal model. 

Middle-class families are expected to save over $1 billion by using the exchange, and 300,000 uninsured Minnesotans are projected to gain coverage through the exchange by 2016.  The end result of this effort will be healthier families, healthier communities and a healthier Minnesota.

A House and Senate Conference Committee met to work out differences between the two bills and we expect to be voting on final passage of the exchange in the next few days.

Minnesota Orchestra Audit

I led 99 fellow legislators in urging the Office of the Legislative Auditor to audit the Minnesota Orchestra Association.  Taxpayers have invested $14 million in bonding dollars for the remodel of the Orchestra Hall lobby and over $1 million in Legacy funds for general operations of the Minnesota Orchestra. 

As a world-class arts organization, the Minnesota Orchestra is part of what makes the Twin Cities a destination. Minnesota Orchestra musicians have been locked out since October 2012 and have canceled all concerts.  We would like to see the situation resolved as quickly as possible so that we can return to having the orchestra as an educational and entertainment resource in Minnesota.  It is in the best interest of the state to expedite a resolution to the lockout so that Minnesotans can again participate in orchestra events and see the benefit of their public investment.

To hear more about the cause for auditing the Minnesota Orchestra, follow this link:

http://youtu.be/Mm0zvhSnbsY


Please feel free to contact me directly with your input, feedback, questions and concerns.  My office door in St. Paul is always open, or you can reach me by phone at (651) 296-0173 or by email at rep.jim.davnie@house.mn. You can also follow me on Twitter at @jdavnie and follow the Property Tax Committee at @mnproptaxes. 

I also encourage you to sign up to receive Session Weekly, a nonpartisan publication of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services.  It is no longer available in print but you can sign up to receive the weekly electronic updates here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/subscribesw.asp.

Thank you for the honor of serving you at the State House.

Sincerely, 


Jim Davnie 
State Representative 
District 63A