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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL)

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Legislative Update - Protecting Working Minnesotans

Friday, February 19, 2021

Rep. Wolgamott

Dear Granite City Neighbors, 

We’re starting to see some light during these dark times with fewer COVID cases and more vaccines leading to restrictions safely loosening for our local businesses and more students going back to in-person learning. As the father of an 8th grader at South Junior High, I strongly support Governor Walz’s thoughtful, data-driven approach to getting our students back to school safely. While supplies remain limited, the continued push to vaccinate our teachers will better ensure that returning to school remains safe and healthy for students and staff. 

With case growth being the lowest we’ve seen since last summer, I’m encouraging everyone in our community to sign up for the state’s new COVID-19 Vaccine Connector.

connector

If you’ve already registered for the COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program or the COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program, you’re already included in this database. We’re still months away from vaccines being readily available for all who want them, and we can’t afford to cede the ground we’ve gained in this pandemic through our shared sacrifice. It remains incredibly important that we follow public health guidelines, including wearing a mask, washing our hands, and remaining socially distant.

 


 

Extending Workers’ Comp for Frontline Workers

When this pandemic first hit Minnesota, we didn’t know how long it would last, but I took swift action to ensure our public safety and health care workers had the peace of mind that they would be able to provide for themselves and their families in the event that they got sick from COVID-19. Part of the negotiations for this bill, now law, included an expiration date of May 1, 2021. It’s very clear now that this date will need to be extended. This week, I did just that

We need to ensure our police officers, firefighters, EMTs, corrections workers, nurses and all healthcare workers, and childcare providers who test positive for COVID-19 can continue to access workers’ compensation benefits. We can’t abandon these heroes while they’re still on the front lines of this pandemic.

 


 

Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers

Another group of workers that have unnecessarily put their physical and financial health on the line are our meat packing workers, who have too often found themselves working in hotspots during this pandemic. When COVID-19 first hit Central Minnesota last spring, I heard heartbreaking and horrifying stories from my constituents about the unhealthy working conditions at meat processing plants that were jeopardizing their wellbeing. To fight this, I introduced the Minnesota Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act.

My bill would provide comprehensive workplace health and safety protections, and ensures workers have access to the benefits and training needed to work safely during this pandemic and beyond. That’s what all Minnesotans deserve.

You can read more about this bill in MPR’s coverage here

 


 

Let Your Voice Be Heard - Name a Snowplow!

It’s a tough decision to make, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation has narrowed down thousands of submissions to an elite group of options for eight potential snowplow names. Cast your votes here

Plowy McPlowface

I’m a sucker for the Star Wars names, so C-3PSnow, Darth Blader, Luke Snowwalker, Snowbi Wan Kenobi will be getting my votes… though I also can’t resist Plowy McPlowface. Voting closes on February 26.

 


 

Stay Connected

If you have any questions or comments on our work in the Minnesota House, please feel free to email me at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn, or give me a call at (651) 296-6612. You can also follow along with my work on my member page, “like” my official facebook page, and subscribe to and share these legislative updates. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Rep. Dan Wolgamott