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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Roz Peterson (R)

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Legislative Update From Rep. Peterson

Friday, June 29, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

I hope your summer is off to a great start and you’ve had the opportunity to get outside and enjoy some warm weather with friends and family. Before the weekend gets underway, here is a quick update with some news from St. Paul and our community.

Preliminary Individual Market Rates Announced

Earlier this month, the Minnesota Department of Commerce released preliminary rates for the 2019 individual insurance market. The announcement revealed that for the second consecutive year, Republican-led reforms have helped reduce or hold flat individual market health insurance rates after years of double-digit increases.

All five of the carriers on the individual market (which serves Minnesotans who buy health insurance on their own, not through an employer or the government) are projected to decrease premiums for 2019, with average preliminary rates dropping between 3% and 12.4%.

This news is another positive sign that our reforms are working, helping to bring down health care costs and increase health care choices. I'm proud to have supported these reforms that are fixing Minnesota's health care system and helping to make insurance more affordable and accessible.

From 2014-2017, average rates increased by double digits every year, including nearly 60% for 2017. Thanks to these reforms enacted in 2017, individual market rates for 2018 remained flat or were reduced for most Minnesotans on the individual market. The Minnesota Department of Commerce confirmed last year that without the reforms, rates would have risen by 20% or more.

City Council Absentee Voting

Absentee voting for the Burnsville City Council primary election begins today, Friday, June 29. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, August 14, and will narrow the field competing for two open city council seats from six to four candidates.

Absentee voting is available from Friday, June 29 - Monday Aug. 13 at:

Burnsville City Hall
100 Civic Center Parkway
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

City offices will also be open for absentee voting during the following times:

  • Saturday, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Monday, Aug. 13 until 5 p.m.

For more information on the primary election and absentee voting, please visit the following link: www.burnsville.org/elections.

Minnesota Department of Health Survey

In order to better understand the needs of women, children, and families across the state, the Minnesota Department of Health is conducting a maternal and child health needs survey.

This is a great opportunity to provide the Department with input and ensure the needs and voices of our communities are heard. The survey is just 2 questions and only takes a few minutes. You can participate by clicking the following link: https://apps.health.state.mn.us/redcap/surveys/?s=AgMG3BzQQE.

In the Community

I attended the Dakota County Board of Commissioners legislative post-session event last week. I was proud to co-author legislation and help secure funding this session for Dakota County’s Safety and Mental Health Alternative Response Training (SMART) Center. The SMART Center will help train first responders on crisis intervention techniques, which focus on giving officers and other first responders the communication skills and options necessary to safely respond to a mental health crisis.

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With ELL students from ISD196 during a tour yesterday morning!

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Thank you to Lakeville Brewing and Angry Inch Brewing for their donation to the Lakeville Public Safety Foundation!

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Contact Me

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns that you have on any issue relating to state government. I can be reached via phone at 651-296-5387 or via email at rep.roz.peterson@house.mn. I would love to hear from you!

Sincerely,

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