Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative update - Feb. 17, 2020

Monday, February 17, 2020

Dear Neighbors,



he 2020 Legislative Session is underway, kicking off on February 11th. It's a new legislative session, but I'm going to continue fighting for our communities and working Minnesotans. I'm proud of the progress the Minnesota Legislature made last year: protecting healthcare for 1.2 million Minnesotans, investing in our schools, and enacting the strongest wage theft protections in the country. This year we still have a lot of work to do. 



This year, I will continue fighting for Minnesota to have a 40-hour work week (did you know we're only one of two states in the country that does not have a 40-hour work week?), a fair bonding bill that prioritizes the east metro, and protecting our families from environmental hazards such as PFAS. 



I'm honored to serve you at the MN Capitol, but I need your help, your voice and values drive action at the Capitol, so I'm asking you to speak up too. If you have a personal story, idea, or question related to business at the State Capitol, please get in touch. You can find my full contact information online at www.house.mn/54A. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here



Continue reading to learn more about what I’ve been up to lately and what I hope we can accomplish together in this year’s legislative session. 





Sincerely,



Anne Claflin

State Representative 



 



Reminder: Two town hall meetings scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22



I’m hosting two town hall meetings with Sen. Karla Bigham this Saturday, Feb. 22. This is an opportunity for you to learn about this year’s legislative session, ask questions, and share comments. Full details are below, and all are welcome! 



Newport town hall meeting

Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10-11am at Newport City Hall (596 7th Avenue)



St. Paul Park town hall meeting

Saturday, Feb. 22 from 1-2pm at St. Paul Park City Hall (600 Portland Avenue)



 



Protecting Minnesotans’ access to clean and safe drinking water



PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. They have been used in non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, microwave popcorn bags, and other products that resist grease, water, and oil. Human exposure to PFAS is considered a public health concern by the Centers for Disease Control.



PFAS are a concern for many people in our community, and addressing them will continue to be one of my top priorities. We can do more to help communities where PFAS have been found and prevent further contamination in other communities. 



That’s why I’ve introduced brand new legislation that would define perfluorochemicals as a hazardous substance under Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act and bring contaminated waste sites into the Superfund program for investigation and cleanup. My bill, House File 3182, is receiving a public hearing in the Natural Resources and Environment Policy Division on Wednesday, Feb. 19. 



PFAS coatings are also used in microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers, pizza boxes, and other packaging that can leach PFAS into our food. I have introduced legislation that bans PFAS from food and beverage packaging so we get these chemicals out of our food and out of our bodies. My bill, House File 3180, will be heard in the Commerce Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 18. 



Stay tuned for more updates as these and other PFAS bills move through the legislative process. 



 



Making sure all children can get a great start 



Minnesotans are facing two crises: education opportunity gaps and inaccessible and unaffordable child care. To address these crises, my colleagues and I have introduced a bold proposal to invest $500 million in early care and learning targeted at Minnesotans from birth to age three. Children, parents, and childcare providers all stand to benefit from our proposal. Learn more by reading this story from the Associated Press.  



 



Prescription drug affordability



The skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs are forcing too many people to make impossible decisions. No one should have to decide between putting food on the table or paying for their medication. Pharmaceutical companies are raking in billions every year and increasing prescription drug prices by over 300% just because they can. This needs to stop. One of the most prominent examples of price gouging we’ve seen in the news is insulin, a drug that diabetics need to stay alive the same way you and I need water and air.



Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and Governor Tim Walz co-authored a Star Tribune op-ed about a solution to create a program for emergency access and long-term affordability. This follows a news conference questioning why some lawmakers oppose holding Big Pharma accountable and asking drug manufacturers to share in the cost of a solution. 



Here’s a short excerpt from the op-ed:



“...we have worked tirelessly to find a solution that Republicans are willing to support. We remain open to their ideas and eager for a bipartisan path forward. We even improved Alec’s bill by adding certain Republican proposals, including a program that would help Minnesotans afford insulin over the long-term. We have come close to reaching a deal.



But there’s one area where Republicans simply will not budge: holding pharmaceutical companies accountable. The only way we can provide relief to Minnesotans struggling to afford their insulin is if we call upon the companies who created this crisis to help fund the solution. The insulin manufacturers and the lobbyists from Big Pharma don’t like Alec’s Bill and are doing everything in their power stop it. They’d much rather have Minnesota taxpayers pick up the tab. Unfortunately, Republicans are right there with them.”




Tagged Stories