Friends,
Too many people are dying every day because they’re fighting a losing battle against drugs. In 2013 in Hennepin County, 56 deaths were attributed to opioid overdoses. We too have lost neighbors and friends in our own communities.
One of these stories – that of Steve Rummler, who became addicted to prescription drugs after a back injury. He died in 2011.
He lives on through the work of his loved ones. They have been working with lawmakers on legislation that will save lives like Steve’s. I’m proud to be the House author of the 911 Good Samaritan and Naloxone bill, also known as “Steve’s Law.”
The increased use and addiction to opiate painkillers and heroin requires our action to save lives. This bill would increase availability of the heroin antidote Naloxone to law enforcement, First Responders and family members. Currently, the law allows paramedics to carry Naloxone. Our legislation would expand access to it to workers at halfway houses and parents who have kids struggling with opiate addiction.
Make no mistake; this bill will not encourage drug abuse but will save lives. I hope it becomes law this year.
Tackling synthetic drugs
Earlier this month, two more young lives were ended due to the scourge of synthetic drugs – this time in Mankato.
I sat on the House Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs. After more than six months of hearings and investigations last year, we came up with a legislative package to address this issue, which reaches every corner of Minnesota.
The actions our committee called for included:
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Eliminating the work-around that some head-shop owners have found by slapping on the label, “Not for human consumption.”
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Granting power to the state Board of Pharmacy to issue cease-and-desist orders to suppliers.
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Permanently expanding the Board of Pharmacy’s rule-making authority to name new compounds as banned controlled substances.
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Appropriating funds for prosecuting synthetic drug cases and analyzing and testing the drugs.
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Funding a public education program especially targeted to young people, warning of the drugs’ hazards.
Our recommendations were bipartisan, and the legislation is moving toward the House floor.
Have you signed up yet?
March 31 is the deadline for signing up for health insurance through MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance exchange. If you fail to do so, you may face a fine.
More than 125,000 Minnesotans have already signed up for high quality, low cost health insurance through MNsure.
All plans sold through MNsure cover preventive care, doctors’ visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, ER services, maternity care and more. Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied, and there are no lifetime limits on coverage. Financial assistance is available to help pay monthly insurance premiums. A single individual earning up to $45,960 a year or a family of four earning up to $94,200 a year could qualify.
I’ve included an attachment in his email that details some of MNsure’s success stories. I encourage you to read it.
After a rocky start, most of the kinks with the MNsure website have been addressed and fixed. The average phone hold time is less than 60 seconds, down from an hour in December. There are nearly 170 agents taking calls. That’s up from 67 in December. There is now 50 staff members whose job it is to help consumers with IT issues manually enroll in MNsure. The success rate for online eligibility determinations is 98 percent.
A lot of folks have tried to argue that, because the problems with its rollout, MNsure has been a failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Minnesota is in a better position than states like Wisconsin that accepted the federal health exchange. Its rates are the lowest in the country. MNsure bronze, silver and gold plans cost less than the average bronze plan in other states. States like Wisconsin that chose to use the federal exchange have resulted in higher costs for consumers. Late in October, a report found that insurance premiums in the Wisconsin insurance marketplace averaged up to 99 percent higher than premiums in Minnesota. That’s a difference of $1,800 a year!
Don’t wait until the last minute. Sign up at www.mnsure.org.
Tax tips
With the income tax filing season in full swing, the Minnesota Department of Revenue is offering helpful tips for taxpayers when filing their income taxes. The department encourages taxpayers to choose Direct Deposit, allowing for a safer and faster refund.
An important note: On Friday, the Senate and House passed and Governor Dayton signed a $430 million tax cut bill. This bill may affect how much of a refund you receive from the state.
If you have not filed your tax return, the Department of Revenue is asking that taxpayers wait until Monday to file. If you have already filed your taxes, the Department of Revenue will examine your return to see if you qualify for these tax cuts and notify you if they need more information or if you need to file an amended return.
The Department of Revenue also offered some important tips to help you avoid common errors:
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Enter your name and any dependents names as they appear on Social Security cards. Incorrect names or Social Security numbers can result in refund delays.
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Double-check bank routing and account numbers used on tax forms. Incorrect account numbers can delay your refund.
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Complete each form and carry totals to the correct lines. If you electronically file, the calculations are done for you.
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If you move after filing, contact the Department of Revenue right away. That way anything sent to you will reach you, such as refund checks or requests for more information. You should do this even when requesting direct deposit.
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You should file the return by the April 15, 2014, due date, even if you owe more than you can pay. You can use our new online system to set up multiple payments with different due dates. Pay as much as you can by the due date, and continue to make payments until you receive a bill from us. When you receive the bill, contact us and we can help you set up a payment plan for the remaining balance.
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Do you qualify for free electronic filing? To see if you qualify to electronically file your income tax return for free, click here. Be sure to access the software products from our website to file for free.
Minnesota FoodShare Month
March is FoodShare Month at the Friends in Need Food Shelf. Everything raised – money toiletries and food – during March are partially matched by Minnesota FoodShare and the Feinstein Foundation.
The best donation to food shelves is money. Friends in Need uses it to buy food from Second Harvest. If you would like to send a check, please mail it to Friends in Need, P.O. Box 6, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.
If you wish to donate items instead, they encourage folks to consider toiletry items (bar soap, shampoo, toilet paper, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, dish soap and large size diapers) instead of food so they don’t have to worry about expiration dates.
Attention high schoolers looking for work!
South Washington County School is hosting its first District 833 Job Fair for high school students on Tuesday, March 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Park High School, 8040 80th St. S., Cottage Grove.
It is open to any high school students eligible to work. Students will have the opportunity to meet and talk to local employers for part-time summer and ongoing work. Computers will be available for students to apply online for jobs on the spot.
Some of the employers attending are Rainbow Foods, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Menards, Aeropostale, Express and YMCA.
All my best,
Dan