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Legislative News and Views - Rep. John Lesch (DFL)

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Capitol Update - October 1, 2019

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

As we turn the page on the calendar toward October, I hope fall is treating you well. One of the best parts of the changing seasons is the breathtaking colors of the trees and right now, they are reaching peak levels. The DNR has a color finder available with maps and other info which can help you plan a day trip to check them out.

Here are some updates from the State Capitol.

Lesch ellison

Mini-Session

minisession

This week, the Minnesota House of Representatives will go on the road for a “Mini-Session” to southeastern Minnesota. With a home base in Winona from tomorrow through Friday, House committees will hold public hearings, visit local sites, and take tours in Winona as well as in Rochester, Austin, and surrounding communities. Mini-Sessions like these give Minnesotans who may live a considerable distance from Saint Paul a better opportunity to engage with legislators and the legislative process outside the State Capitol.

Tomorrow, I look forward to joining the Health and Human Services Finance Division at the U of M’s Rochester campus for a hearing about the outrageous price of prescription drugs and our efforts to stop price gouging. On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will have a busy morning as we tour the Winona County District Courthouse and host a series of roundtable discussions about courts in southeastern Minnesota, criminal justice reform, and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board certification with members of Winona State University’s Criminal Justice Department faculty.

Fourteen mini-sessions occurred from 1987-1997, with this year marking the 30th anniversary of the 1989 mini-session in Winona. The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has information available on each of the prior mini-sessions

Expungement Fair

This Saturday, October 5 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office are hosting an Informational Expungement Fair. It will take place at the High School for Recording Arts (1166 University Ave W, Saint Paul, 55104).

Those who do wrong must certainly be held accountable for their actions, but following completion of their sentence, they also deserve the opportunity to move forward and be complete participants in our community. Expungement is a process where legal records of an arrest or a criminal conviction are sealed, which can remove some sizable barriers toward getting a job or securing housing. Attorneys will be on hand for one-on-one conversations to provide information about the process and help people determine if they may be eligible. This event is free and open to the public.

Get Involved: Apply for a State Board or Commission

Are you interested in sharing your expertise to improve our state? There are numerous vacancies on various boards, commissions, task forces and councils that all shape public policy which need input from engaged Minnesotans. Panels concerning topics as diverse as workers compensation, mental health, organic farming, horse racing, plumbing, combative sports, medical cannabis, juvenile justice, and many more are all seeking dedicated applicants to serve.

Please visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website for a full listing and for information about how to apply.

Health Care Forums

Health care is a complex topic with many issues impacting access, cost, level of care available and more. HealthPartners is a non-profit, integrated system that is both an insurer as well as a medical provider, which has medical facilities in our community. They are hosting a pair of Health Care Issue Forums later this month.

October 22, 1 - 4pm -- HealthPartners Neuroscience Center, 295 Phalen Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55130

October 23, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. -- Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101

The events will provide in-depth discussions on insurance design, pharmacy costs, transparency, state public programs, hospital financing, and other important issues, and the opportunity to ask questions. There will also be some optional short tours of their health care facilities.  

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to Robert Freeman at Robert.A.Freeman@HealthPartners.com.

MVP Survey

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Minnesotans care deeply about our state and want to see one another succeed. Working together, we can strengthen our communities by improving education opportunities, making affordable healthcare a reality, and increasing economic prosperity for all Minnesotans.

In 2017, the House DFL Caucus launched the Minnesota Values Project, which led to hundreds of meaningful conversations with people across all Minnesota about their priorities. The Minnesota Values Plan was the result of this work, which were the top 10 bills introduced in the 2019 legislative session.

This work continues as we hear from more Minnesotans about the vision they have for their state. Looking ahead to the 2020 legislative session, we’re looking to hear more perspectives and feedback from Minnesotans. You’re invited to take the new Minnesota Values Project survey. As we build a shared vision for our state, your input is crucial in this process. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts.

Please continue to reach out with your ideas, input, or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent our community at the State Capitol.

Sincerely,

John Lesch
State Representative