Legislative Update-Health Care Proposals at the Capitol

Dear Neighbors,

Access to affordable health care and prescription medication continues to be a top bipartisan priority this session. This week at the Capitol, many proposals were introduced and received public hearings in the House. Read more about what I’ve been working on below.

Advisory Task Force on Lowering Prescription Drug Prices Releases Findings

After nearly one year of public study and deliberation, Minnesota Attorney General Ellison’s Advisory Task Force on Lowering Prescription Drug Prices released a report and 14 recommendations for lowering prescription drug prices. The goals of their recommendations are to:

• Make overly complex, opaque, and dysfunctional markets work better for people
• Use public power to make drugs more affordable and accessible, especially life-saving ones
• Require more transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical drug market.

Doctors Caucus’ Legislative Agenda

The ‘Doctors Caucus’, a group of bipartisan legislators who are practicing physicians, of which I’m a member, held a press conference this week to roll out our plan to address rising prescription drug prices and improve access to health care.

My bill, which had its first public hearing in the Commerce Committee on Thursday, would create a Prescription Drug Price Affordability Commission to review dramatic increases in the price of drugs. If a drug enters the market above a certain threshold or increases dramatically over a period of time, the Commission would investigate the justification for those prices and be empowered to set limits on the costs of those medications. 

You can find a comprehensive overview of our plan from the Forum News’ coverage here.

Transferring Mining Promotion to DEED

I introduced legislation this week that would transfer the responsibilities of mining promotion from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Responsibility for both promoting mining and protecting our water and natural resources is a clear conflict and should not fall under the auspices of a single agency. 

You can read more in this Duluth News Tribune article.

Constituent Spotlight

Great to meet with Excelsior Fire Chief Curtis Mackey and his son this week! We discussed issues important to fire fighters, including stress management and mental health awareness. I have so much respect for the work he and his department do. Thank you for keeping us safe, Chief!

I was also happy to meet constituent Janet Stanzak and learn more about the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota. Thank you for visiting!

Stay Connected

Please keep in touch on the issues you care about. Don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be of assistance. I can be reached at the Capitol at 651-296-4315 or by email at rep.kelly.morrison@house.mn.

If you have friends, coworkers, or neighbors who may be interested in receiving news from me from the Capitol, feel free to share this link with your network.  

It’s an honor to represent you and our communities in St. Paul!

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Kelly