Dear Neighbors,
Our second deadline for bills is this Thursday and committees are meeting day and night. The Transportation Regional Governance and Policy Committee, of which I’m the lead DFL member, has been crafting its final large omnibus bill which includes some of my bills. Eight weeks remain until adjournment. Here’s an update from the Capitol:
March for Our Lives
Nearly 20,000 allies for common sense gun safety measures were at the Minnesota Capitol on Saturday. It was incredibly powerful and encouraging to see so many from our community march and rally in solidarity. Afterward, I made arrangements for Senator Laine, Rep. Kunesh-Podein and I to give students and advocates from the district a behind the scenes tour of the Senate and House Chambers inside the Capitol.
State Employee Contracts Approved
Legislative approval has finally been given to a ‘clean’ state employee contracts bill, with no strings attached and has been signed by the Governor. The contracts were previously negotiated and agreed upon, but were held up at the end of last session by the House Majority.
We are fortunate Minnesota and our community has thousands of dedicated professionals who serve us by plowing our roads, guarding our prisons, keeping our food and drinking water safe, and so much more. These hardworking people deserve to have their agreed upon contracts passed into law. Despite the delay, I am glad there was bipartisan support.
Medical Assistance Restrictions
Tomorrow, the Health and Human Services Finance Committee will consider HF 3722, which would place new restrictions on certain Medical Assistance recipients. Elderly, people with disabilities and children make up the majority of people on Medical Assistance. It would require the Department of Human Services Commissioner to seek a federal waiver to mandate work requirements for MA enrollees, with the objective of “lifting Minnesotans out of poverty.”
Every Minnesotan ought to be able to access quality health care. Instead, this bill directly contradicts not only the original purpose of Medicaid, but our core values of taking care of one another. By taking away MA, Minnesotans will face worse health outcomes that are more costly to treat.
This bill threatens the progress we’ve made to ensure everyone has quality health care coverage. After the 2014 MA expansion, Minnesota’s uninsured rate dropped significantly. Last year though, this number actually increased. If attacks on the mission of access to care continue, like this one, it could further increase our uninsured population. Many Minnesotans face a variety of barriers to achieving economic security, including a lack of child care access, paid family leave, sick time, transportation and transit options, and many others. Instead of threatening to take away people’s health care coverage, let’s work on removing barriers like these.
Next week, legislators are on Easter and Passover recess. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or input on any state related matters. I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday and spring. I am looking forward to spending time with my family and visiting my parents and mother and father-in-law over the holiday.
Sincerely,
Connie Bernardy
State Representative