Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update from the Capitol.
Working to Protect Women and Taxpayers
On Monday, the House passed two bipartisan bills related to the abortion industry.
The first, House File 809, prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions, which would add Minnesota to a list of 33 other states and the federal government who have similar measures in place. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, taxpayer funded abortions have grown to more than 43 percent of all abortions performed in the state, and many Minnesotans rightly expect that their tax dollars should not fund something they morally oppose.
The other bill is House File 812, legislation I authored that protects the health and safety of women who choose to get an abortion in Minnesota. That bill would require any facility that performs ten or more abortions per month to be licensed and inspected by the Minnesota Department of Health. They would be evaluated by evidence-based clinical standards put forth by their own industry, ensuring they meet and continue to meet safety, sanitary and health standards to protect patients.
For my bill in particular, we worked to amend the legislation and address concerns of pro-choice advocates in the bill. This is legislation that I believe both pro-choice and pro-life legislators can agree upon. It’s commonsense for government to license these facilities—something not currently being done, and I am extremely disappointed that Governor Dayton stated he would veto both my bill and HF 809 earlier this week.
Conference Committee Negotiations
I am frustrated to report that Governor Dayton backtracked on his word and changed the parameters of budget negotiations, choosing not to negotiate in the conference committee process this week. Originally, he had asked us to join him in setting joint budget targets by Friday, April 28th which legislative leaders agreed to do.
House and Senate conference committees are continuing to work on legislation including tax relief, agriculture, transportation and education, but with less than a month remaining in session, it would be helpful for the governor and his commissioners to engage in the process. Doing so means we can come to a bipartisan agreement in a timely manner, and pass a budget that works for the people and priorities of Minnesota. The House and Senate released their own joint budget targets today to keep negotiations moving forward.
What’s more, Governor Dayton is also refusing to listen to the farmers and rural folks in Greater Minnesota who are asking to delay the implementation of the buffer law. Earlier this week in a press conference he stated he would not negotiate on the issue, ignoring the priorities of rural communities across the state and refusing to work with legislators on a commonsense compromise.
I will keep you updated as negotiations continue.
Around the Capitol
With High School Page Jacob Wagner from Fisher, MN
Sincerely,
Deb
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