Friends,
While the federal government is suspended in gridlock (more on that below), the action here at Minnesota’s Capitol is nonstop. This week has felt particularly busy and productive. I am starting to see progress on issues that are not only important to me – I have been working on them for two years, after all – but to everyone in our community.
Equal Rights Amendment
A decade after the issue of equal rights was last discussed in the Minnesota legislature, it’s back on the table. My Equal Rights Amendment received its first public hearing yesterday. It passed the Government Operations committee unanimously and is on to Ways and Means. If the bill is signed into law it will be on the ballot in November of 2020, 100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. I strongly believe we should give voters the chance to cast a vote for equality for both men and women and over 90 percent of Americans agree we should have an ERA in our state constitutions.
Dave Orrick wrote more about the history of the Equal Rights Amendment in the Pioneer Press. You can read the story here.
Rep. Kunesh-Podein with supporters at the ERA hearing
Government Shutdown
Federal employees are being forced to make hard choices. Our Nation’s public servants shouldn’t have to choose between paying their rent and paying the medical bills. The Minnesota legislature introduced a bill this week to guarantee interest-free loans to federal employees, so they can continue living productive, healthy lives while the government is shut down.
Public safety
I co-sponsored legislation this week to prohibit tobacco in charter schools and prevent our children from accessing tobacco at an early age. I also co-authored legislation to rein in the cost of insulin by allowing the commissioner of health to review the cost of insulin and determine whether the cost is excessive. These are public safety and health issues that are very important to me, and impact many members of our community.
Next Week
Next week I will participate in hearings on two important pieces of legislation that I’ve been working incredibly hard on. Tuesday, January 29 the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy committee will hear testimony for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women bill. I’m hopeful that this legislation will move forward, so we can send a message that Minnesota will not let Indigenous women continue to vanish.
On Wednesday, January 30 the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division committee will hear testimony on legislation I introduced – the “Buttocks Bill” – to clarify the currently incomplete definition of sexual harassment. Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, at work, and in their community and this bill is a big step in the right direction.
Please stay warm this weekend! As always, if you ever have an idea, concern or question you can reach me by phone at 651-296-9873 and email at rep.kuneshpodein@house.mn. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
MaryKP