Dear Neighbor,
This week the House Capital Investment Committee heard a bill that would provide $7.9 million for the National Loon Center at Crosslake. The funding represents what is needed to push the project onto final completion. The legislature is assembling a comprehensive capital investment bill that will be dealt with toward the end of session next month.
Over the past five years, the National Loon Center has been moving steadily on a path to create a world class research, education and interruptive center focused on Minnesota’s state bird the loon. Since its inception the National Loon Center project has attacked several million dollars in private donations, as well as a $4 million competitive grant from Minnesota’s Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The 2022 open water Mille Lacs Lake walleye regulations were recently released by the DNR. A limit of one walleye 21-23 inches or one longer than 28 inches begins Saturday, May 14 and ends on Monday, May 30. After May 30, catch-and-release will be in effect until early July when a two-week walleye fishing closure is imposed to reduce hooking mortality.
The DNR expects the one-fish walleye limit to return Sept. 1. Anglers should consult the DNR website (here) and review the full spectrum of special rules that apply to Mille Lacs Lake, which also includes special rules related to fishing hours, and muskellunge and northern pike anglers.
The legislature sent a bipartisan bill (SF3472) to the governor that continues Minnesota's health care reinsurance program. The bill extends the program for five years and appropriates funds to cover the next three years of operation. The bill passed the Senate on a 47-20 vote, and I was pleased to add my support to the 106-25 vote in House.
The legislature put the current reinsurance program in place in 2017, which resulted in stabilizing sky-rocketing health insurance rates for those that purchase health insurance in the individual marketplace. About 167,000 Minnesotans are impacted including many small businesses, farmers, independent contractors, and other self-employed workers.
Without continuation of this program health insurance rates for this group are estimated to increase by about 20-25% next year. Much work remains on getting health costs under control. Those costs drive the cost of health insurance for everyone, whether the insurance is purchased in the independent market or provided by one’s employer.
Be safe as we enjoy this warm spring weather.
Sincerely,
Dale