ST. PAUL, MN – Today, state lawmakers kicked off the 2014 Legislative Session. State Representatives Carly Melin (DFL – Hibbing) and Jason Metsa (DFL – Virginia) said they are excited to return to the state capitol to build on the progress Minnesota made in 2013.
“Minnesota is in a far better place than it was one year ago, but we have more work to do,” said Melin. “There are too many individuals, families and businesses in northeastern Minnesota who have not shared in our economic recovery as much as they should. The 2014 Session is a new opportunity to create good jobs and make sure Minnesotans can provide for themselves and their families.”
Rep. Metsa agreed that lawmakers’ focus must remain on job creation, economic development, and reducing income inequality.
"It’s good to be back at the capitol speaking up for my constituents back home,” said Metsa. “I’m hearing from a lot of folks who want us to raise the minimum wage, pass a strong bonding bill, and make sure our kids receive a high-quality education. I’m excited to make more progress on those kinds of bread-and-butter economic issues. People back home are counting on us to get this stuff done.”
In their first votes of the 2014 Legislative Session, Melin and Metsa supported $20 million in additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Minnesotans impacted by the ongoing propane crisis.
In January, the Commerce Department increased LIHEAP Crisis payments from $500 to $1,000 for eligible Minnesotans currently heating their homes with propane and heating oil. In addition, Governor Dayton expanded eligibility requirements to households earning up to 60 percent of the state median income (up from 50 percent).
The pair of Range lawmakers aim to accomplish as much as possible in this year’s short Session.
Melin is the chief author of the Women’s Economic Security Act, a series of bills designed to break down the disproportionate barriers to economic security facing women in Minnesota. Some of the Act’s top goals include closing the gender pay gap, expanding paid sick leave, increasing access to high-quality and affordable childcare, and helping women-owned small businesses grow and thrive.
As a member of the House Capital Investment Committee, Melin will help craft a bonding bill that creates jobs by repairing and improving state assets like roads, bridges, and facilities at Minnesota’s public colleges and universities. She is authoring several local bonding projects, the most prominent being the renovation and expansion of the Range Regional Airport, which she also sponsored during the 2013 Session.
Metsa is providing input for the bonding bill as well. He is authoring a bill to provide funding for the design and construction of a new office building in Virginia that would house the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency and Range Mental Health Center.
Increasing the minimum wage is another top priority for Metsa. He is currently participating in the “Minimum Wage Challenge” for the second year in a row, an effort that encourages lawmakers to live on the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour for one week. Metsa said he also plans to introduce legislation related to the region’s taconite tax code.
Melin and Metsa encourage their constituents to stay in touch during the 2014 Legislative Session with any questions, comments or other feedback. Their respective contact information is as follows:
REP. MELIN
515 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-0172 or toll-free at 888-726-0711
E-mail: rep.carly.melin@house.mn
REP. METSA
521 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-0170 or toll-free at 888-682-3205
E-mail: rep.jason.metsa@house.mn