Schultz Sworn-In for 2nd Term in the Minnesota House
Duluth DFLer urges quick action on health insurance crisis
St. Paul, Minn. – Today, during the opening day of the 2017 Legislative Session, Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL – Duluth) was sworn into the Minnesota House of Representatives. An economics professor at the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Rep. Schultz enters her second term at the State Capitol.
“It’s an honor to return to St. Paul and get back to work on important issues which will determine the course for the state of Minnesota in the next two years,” Rep. Schultz said. “With such a divisive campaign season behind us, it’s important to collaborate on solutions to some of the major challenges facing Minnesotans and their families.”
This session, Rep. Schultz will serve on the following House standing committees: Health and Human Services Finance, Higher Education and Career Readiness Finance, and Taxes. She also has seats on the Health Care Finance Task Force, the MNsure Legislative Oversight Committee, Great Lakes Commission, and Legislative Commission on Data Practices. She is particularly interested in returning to the panels dealing with health care to solve the crisis of skyrocketing health insurance premiums and provide immediate relief to those effected.
“There is a bipartisan recognition that we need to provide relief to the many Minnesotans who buy health insurance on the individual market. They have been waiting too long for some help, and it’s extremely disappointing we couldn’t have a special session to take care of this,” Rep. Schultz said. “While there are certainly long-term changes to our health care policy we should consider, immediate financial assistance cannot be held hostage by these proposals. We must come together now to provide a rebate like the one proposed by Gov. Dayton. With premium bills arriving in mailboxes, folks cannot afford to wait any longer.”
In addition to the health insurance premium issue, in the coming session Rep. Schultz will also look to solve the state’s transportation problem and pass a bonding bill improving state infrastructure.
“Fixes to our roads and bridges are way overdue and costs of these repairs continue to increase the longer we go without taking action,” she said. “We’re also in a strong position to pass a bonding bill, and it’s a terrible symptom of partisan rancor that this didn’t get done last year. I’m committed to doing my part to get a significant, but regionally balanced bonding bill to the Governor’s desk.”
Throughout the session, Rep. Schultz encourages constituents to reach out to her with their views on any issue important to them. She can be reached via email at rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-2228. She also sends periodic email updates, and constituents can sign up for those at her legislative webpage at www.house.mn/7a.