Dear Neighbor,
On June 30 we received some very good news from the U.S. Supreme Court in a case called Harris v. Quinn. The high court ruled that homecare workers in Illinois that receive some state assistance cannot be compelled to pay dues to the government union because they are not full-fledged state employees. The plaintiff in this case was a mom caring for her disabled son.
Last fall, the federal appeals court in Minnesota had put Minnesota’s childcare unionization law on hold until this case was settled. With it now decided, it is likely the federal courts in Minnesota will rule the law is unconstitutional for childcare providers in the Parrish v. Dayton case. We anticipate that the personal care attendant (PCA) unionization – which passed in the same legislation as the unionization of childcare providers – will also run into constitutional problems, but PCA unionization was not the focus of the Parrish lawsuit.
This ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court is welcome news for Minnesota moms and dads who already pay some of the highest childcare costs in the nation. Furthermore, childcare providers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing it’s likely that they won’t be forced to raise prices or turn away children in need of care based on the cost of union dues.
On the day the decision was announced, I was proud to stand in support of Jennifer Parrish, the childcare provider who is the lead plaintiff in one of the lawsuits challenging the childcare unionization law, and other childcare providers at a press conference along with several Republican legislators.
As it relates to PCA unionization, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced last week that they delivered cards to the Bureau of Mediation Services, triggering a union election to unionize PCAs. Given the precedent the Harris v. Quinn case set, it’s likely the law will be in jeopardy once a lawsuit is filed and the legal process moves forward.
People have the right to associate with any group they wish. The state should not compel citizens by the force of law to join a union and give up money intended for the care of their loved ones. Governor Dayton and those in control of the legislature should follow the U.S. Supreme Court decision, which makes it clear that the state cannot force people who are not state employees to pay dues to a government union.
OBAMACARE IN MINNESOTA
State officials recently revealed that at least 16,000 low-income Minnesotans never received letters telling them that the state needed more information on their MNsure applications for insurance coverage through the Medical Assistance program. It is possible that many of these people remain uninsured. The notices were supposed to tell the applicants to provide more information to qualify for the state's Medical Assistance program, but were never sent to the affected individuals.
Due to the inept implementation of Obamacare in Minnesota, 16,000 low-income Minnesotans may be without coverage. Instead of recognizing that families were going to be penalized, House Democrats called these people lawbreakers and dismissed efforts by Republican legislators to provide assistance.
It’s important for the public to know whether there is a plan to hold officials at the Department of Human Services accountable for mismanagement. Or will the same group of people be allowed to continue making the same mistakes without consequences while people are without coverage?
ST. CROIX RIVER CROSSING
I’ve been working with state, county, and Oak Park Heights officials on the north frontage road related to the St. Croix River Crossing. A final decision will be made on July 22.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Stillwater Log Jam will take place this weekend starting Friday, July 18 and going through Sunday, July 20. You can find out more information by going to the Stillwater Log Jam website.
The Washington County Fair is scheduled to begin Wednesday, July 30 and run through Sunday, August 3. More information is available on the Washington County Fair website.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Based on state law, I can no longer send out legislative e-mail updates and mass mailings after today through November 4. However, I can still respond to individual constituent e-mails and letters. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions, comments, and concerns you may have in the coming months.
You can contact me by e-mail at Rep.Kathy.Lohmer@House.MN or call my office at 651-296-4244. You can also send mail to my office address: 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Kathy