Dear Neighbor,
Here is an update with the latest news from Saint Paul.
Attend Listening Sessions in Crookston and Have Your Voice Heard
Two listening sessions hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Governor Dayton’s office are being held in Crookston on Tuesday, September 5. The first is a town hall listening session on agriculture issues including the Nitrogen Fertilizer Rule hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the second is a water quality town hall held by the governor’s office.
These two Crookston listening sessions will give folks a chance to share their input and thoughts directly with state agencies and the executive branch. It’s important to have your voice heard, and I would encourage people to attend.
Here are the details of the meetings:
MDA Town Hall Listening Session on Ag Issues
Date: Tuesday, September 5
Time: 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Location: University of Minnesota Crookston, Dowell Hall, Room 206
Governor Dayton’s Water Quality Town Hall
Date, Tuesday, September 5
Time: Registration begins at 6:00 p.m., meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: University of Minnesota Crookston, Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, 2900 University Avenue
Feel free to contact my office if you have any questions.
Capital Investment Committee Comes to NW MN
I was pleased the Capital Investment Committee came to NW MN at my invitation recently to tour important local spots including NCTC and the North Country Food Bank. We also visited the University of Minnesota Crookston campus to meet with the new chancellor and tour labs in need up upgrades. It was a great opportunity to see the good work being done here and why bonding investments are so critical to our communities.
I will continue to advocate for the people and priorities of District 1B at the Capitol!
You can read more about the recent tours in the Grand Forks Herald here.
Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Pipeline
Last week, I signed onto a letter with dozens of other legislator from across the state to urge Governor Dayton to instruct the Department of Commerce and Public Utilities Commission to move forward with the proposed Enbridge Line 3 Replacement project.
The aging pipeline was ordered replaced by the federal government during the Obama administration, and has been subject to unprecedented public review and comment. In the letter, we noted that the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Public Utilities Commission have consistently exceeded statutory and regulatory timeframes which has added unnecessary delays to the critical project.
What’s more, replacement of the Line 3 Pipeline will mean more than $3 billion in private investment and create thousands of good-paying jobs along the route, so not only will this project give a boost the economy in our part of the state, but it will also ensure that we make critical improvements to this pipeline to protect our water and environment. We have heard from the public, examined the merits of this project and now the state needs to act and allow the Line 3 Replacement Pipeline to move forward.
With the Environmental Impact Statement now complete, the project has now cleared all relevant procedural hurdles including the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). A final decision is expected next spring, and I will keep you updated.
Ending Double-Digit Premium Increases
For the Greater Minnesota families, farmers and small business owners who have been negatively impacted by Obamacare and MNsure over the past several years, I have some great news.
Late last month preliminary rates for the 2018 individual market were released, showing Republican-led reforms could end the four year trend of double-digit premium increases. In fact, the Minnesota Department of Commerce shared that if the federal government approves the Minnesota Premium Security Plan, tens of thousands of Minnesotans could actually see premium decreases. That’s a huge turnaround considering average rates increased nearly 60 percent just last year.
Additionally, all current insurers will continue serving in the individual market for 2018 which is important for rural parts of the state like ours. And with a number of consumer protections passed this year, we also pushed to provide access to better networks of hospitals and doctors in an effort to preserve and enhance choice within the market.
While we don’t know what reforms will move forward at the federal level, here in Minnesota, Republicans are working to lower costs and improve access and choice for thousands of hardworking Minnesotans who purchase their own insurance.
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It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Deb
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01B