Dear Neighbors,
With school back in session, I hope the academic year is off to a terrific start for those students close to you. Here is an update on some of my recent activities here in Duluth, in St. Paul and elsewhere.
Duluth Bonding Tour
On Tuesday, I joined the House Capital Investment Committee, often referred to as the “bonding committee,” on a tour of Duluth as it prepares a 2018 public works bonding bill. Our community has several construction projects on the horizon, but many of them require a financial investment from the state. With over $3.2 billion in requests from local units of government and state agencies competing for inclusion in a bonding bill that will likely be about one-third of that amount, this was an important opportunity to showcase our area’s growing infrastructure needs.
The tour started at UMD, which is seeking building upgrades and renovations including classroom updates, new lab space, and fixing outdated heating and cooling systems. The group also got to see the construction under way on the new Chemistry and Advanced Material Science building, which was funded through state bonding dollars.
After a tour of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, we traveled to the sea wall near the DECC, giving other legislators a view of how badly it is deteriorating. Next, we made a stop at WLSSD, which is requesting funding for a combined heat and power system to generate electricity by taking advantage of biogas. Following that, the committee toured the Duluth Depot, which is seeking funding to repair walls and windows, as well as HVAC upgrades and energy efficiency improvements.
We then made a stop at the Steam Plant to get an update on their conversion project, shifting away from coal use. The tour concluded with a stop at Glensheen. There is tremendous potential for UMD to take advantage of this wonderful site in a number of ways, but it needs significant rehabilitation.
Each of these proposals enhances our region in one of many different facets including providing new opportunities for students, expanding trade, enhancing tourism, addressing climate concerns and overall, improving our way of life. As the gateway to the Great Lakes, Duluth is a unique city in Minnesota. Duluth and the surrounding region are vital for the state’s economic success. I’m hopeful that next year’s bonding bill will adequately address our state’s public infrastructure needs, and does so in a regionally-balanced manner.
Protecting Health Care for Minnesotans
On Monday in Duluth, I was able to take part in a community roundtable discussion on the topic of state health care needs. The meeting was convened by State Senator Tony Lourey of Kerrick, the lead DFLer on the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee. We were joined by representatives from St. Louis County, UMD, Essentia Health and others. There were plenty of great ideas, many of which were centered on our ability to provide a more holistic approach to health care delivery.
Also on the subject of health care, last week indications came from the federal government that funding for MinnesotaCare, which for over 25 years has provided quality, affordable coverage to low-income working Minnesotans could be put in jeopardy. As part of the approval of Minnesota’s federal waiver request for “reinsurance,” a Republican plan to subsidize insurance companies with their hope of lowering premiums, Minnesota’s funding for MinnesotaCare would be reduced.
Several of my DFL colleagues and I sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price objecting to this harmful scheme. We have to put Minnesotans and their health care ahead of the wants of insurance companies. We cannot accept a proposal which harms single parents, young adults, farmers, small business owners. Instead of cutting access to quality care, we should be taking steps to expand it through solutions like a public insurance option. I authored a column on this topic in the Duluth News Tribune which you can read here.
Healthcare 2017: The Basics
I’m honored to have been invited to participate in a forum titled “Healthcare 2017: The Basics” which will be held on November 18 from 9 a.m.-noon. I’ll be leading a discussion on the economics of American health care. Joining me will be retired physician Patrick Schoenfelder, MD and Michael Mahoney, Vice President for Public Policy at Essentia Health.
The event will be in the Fellowship Hall at Peace United Church of Christ (1111 N 11th Ave E). It is open to the public, and more information can be found here.
Great Lakes Commission
The Great Lakes Commission held their annual meeting in Duluth earlier this month. We had productive discussions about clean water infrastructure, aquatic invasive species, commercial navigation and more. I successfully carried a resolution addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Last week I had the opportunity to head to Toronto for a meeting of the Council of State Government’s Great Lakes Legislative Caucus, and I am proud to be on this group’s executive committee. Here, I was able to also get through a resolution on CECs, as well as one highlighting the dangers sulfide mining presents to the Great Lakes and St. Louis River Watershed.
The 2018 legislative session is over four months away, but during the interim I'm working on legislation to protect worker's rights and to strengthen our democracy. Please continue to reach out to me with your feedback, questions, or for assistance.
Sincerely,
Jen Schultz
State Representative