Dear Neighbor,
Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol.
Cracking Down on Repeat DWI Offenders
Talking to Kare 11 about legislation I am introducing next session to strengthen our DWI laws.
After the recent news story regarding a Minnesota man who received his 28th DWI offense, I began looking into our DWI laws and how they can be strengthened. There is a point when we must say ‘enough is enough.’
Seeing the story, Minnesotans were justifiably outraged that someone with so many DWI offenses could still be legally driving on our roads with a valid state-issued ID. In my opinion, people who flagrantly put the lives of their fellow drivers in danger should not be on the road with the privileges that come with having a Minnesota driver’s license.
Under current Minnesota law, repeat offenders with four or more "qualified prior driving incidents" can have their license reinstated after six years. I plan to introduce legislation next year that would seek to permanently revoke driving privileges for offenders after their 5th offense. Similar laws exist in several other states.
To me, it’s clear that a conversation is needed at the Legislature next year on how we strengthen state law and ensure prosecutors have the tools they need to keep repeat DWI offenders off the road.
I talked to Kare 11 about my proposed legislation, and you can see the full story here.
Reforms Bring Stability to Individual Insurance Market
At the beginning of October, the Minnesota Department of Commerce released final rates for the 2018 individual market, confirming that a number of reforms the Legislature advanced this session helped reverse a four-year trend of double-digit premium increases. Without those reforms, which include our reinsurance plan, the Department of Commerce estimated that rates would have risen by 20 percent or more. Instead, premiums are steady or declining for next year.
Many Edina residents, families and small business owners were hurt by year after year of rising premium costs, and we worked diligently at the Legislature this year to reverse that trend, addressing affordability, accessibility and choice.
I know that action on health care at the federal level is still unclear, but here in our state, we have put forward real solutions to check rising costs on the individual market, helping thousands of Minnesotans who purchase their own insurance.
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I welcome you to contact my office at any time to share your thoughts, concerns and ideas about what you would like to see happen at the Capitol. Your input is invaluable and helps me better represent the voices and priorities of our community. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4363 or by email at Rep.Dario.Anselmo@House.mn.
It is an honor and privilege to serve as your voice at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Dario
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