Dear Neighbors,
It’s hard to believe, but the Fourth of July is already here! I hope you will join me this Independence Day and celebrate our great nation. Let us never forget the sacrifices made by so many to ensure our freedom and liberty. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and festive holiday weekend. God Bless America.
Roxanne and I attended our youngest son’s graduation at the Air Force Academy at the end of May. We are proudly pictured with 2nd Lt Jason Warren Fabian!
Promising News for Working Parents and Childcare Providers
Promising news for working parents and childcare providers came this week from a Supreme Court ruling that has a direct impact on these hardworking Minnesotans.
If you recall, childcare providers have been fighting a battle against Gov. Dayton since he came into office in 2011. First, he tried to unionize these small, private business owners by executive order. (In short, he wanted to make them public employees required to pay fair share dues.) They filed a legal suit, and his order was struck down in court.
Then he used his new DFL majorities in 2013 to push childcare unionization through the Legislature. One day after the governor signed the new law, childcare owner Jennifer Parrish filed suit against him.
The case (Parrish v. Dayton) is still in court, and the ruling hinges largely on precedence set at the federal level in a case that was decided this week. In Harris v. Quinn, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that homecare workers in Illinois are not public employees and therefore cannot be compelled to join a public employee union (much like what is happening to childcare owners in our state). With it now decided, it is very likely the federal courts in Minnesota will rule Minnesota’s unionization law unconstitutional in the case of Parrish v. Dayton.
An overwhelming majority of childcare providers—of all political stripes!—disagree with this type of unionization. First and foremost, they are not public employees and do not want to be considered as such. But mainly, unionization would force them to raise daycare costs to cover union dues or turn away children in need of care because their parents receive public assistance.
With the annual costs of childcare exceeding the average cost of in-state college tuition and fees, Minnesota families simply cannot afford the additional strain that unionization would impose on their budgets.
Workforce Housing in NW Minnesota
We are continuing our discussions regarding the shortage of housing in NW Minnesota. The State Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is going to administer funding for a workforce housing pilot project in Roseau and Pennington counties as approved by the Legislature this past session.
At the first meeting in June, I met with reps from the cities of Roseau and TRF, Central Boiler, Polaris, Digi-Key, Marvin Windows, Arctic Cat, DEED, and the MN Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Digi-Key for hosting.
Then I traveled to St. Paul to meet with Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben and her staff, J.R. Burke of Polaris, and Patrick Hynes of the League of MN Cities to work on clarifying the application process pilot project. I am optimistic about our progress so far.
New Laws
Many new laws took effect on July 1 that were passed during the 2014 legislative session. They are both budget- and policy-related.
For instance, $80 million was allocated from the budget surplus to give home and community-based service providers a much-needed 5-percent rate increase. This will help ensure our health care system, especially in rural Minnesota, stays strong well into the future. On the policy side, Minnesota becomes the first state to require a smartphone ‘kill switch’ to help curb theft.
Summaries of all laws are available online from non-partisan House Public Information Services. You can access them by clicking here.
Around the District
I’ve been out and about in the district since session ended in May. There are a lot of great community events taking place, and I encourage you to attend and support them!
Meet Your Neighbors Day in Argyle
Visiting with Jamie Bender, manager at the Warroad Farmers Union Travel Center, at Cenex’s open house.
Thanks to the Marshall County Central 6th Grade Class for visiting the State Capitol.
Visited with Jacki Grindahl and Sheri Loken at Cafe 89 in Wannaska. The meatball special was great!
Great to meet the entire sixth grade class from TRF Franklin Middle School.
Excellent turnout at North Star Electric Coop's Member Appreciation Open House in Baudette.
Beautiful day for the Scandinavian Festival in Roseau. The Lions Club put on a pancake breakfast at the Four Seasons Center.
Florian Polish Day
Thanks to everyone who planned and participated in the Celebrate Kennedy 125th Celebration. It was a great time!
*****
My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!
Dan
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01A