Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL)

Back to profile

Legislative Update - May 4th, 2017

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Hello Northlanders,

 

On Friday, the House and Senate Republican majorities set joint budget targets. These targets are an important step in final budget negotiations between the House, Senate, and Governor over the next 3 weeks. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the state has a budget surplus, their targets underfund E-12 and higher education. These Republican cuts make way for massive spending in the tax bill, which gives tax cuts for corporations and the rich. We are working with Governor Dayton to achieve full and equitable funding for our schools, and to make investments in areas that keep Minnesota’s economy strong into the future.

 

My main focus is on the environment budget bill. I am pleased to see funding for sediment control in the St. Louis River system, funding to support county recycling programs, and funding for several forest management initiatives.

 

There are more provisions that I support in the bill, but overall, this environment bill takes Minnesota in the wrong direction. I am disappointed in the cuts to agencies’ budgets which will make it more difficult for them to do their work efficiently. I am also disappointed that this bill puts the game and fish fund at risk by not adjusting the license fees which most fish and game groups are advocating.

 

We hope to reach a bipartisan compromise in the budget negotiations soon. House and Senate Republicans have done little to move toward the governor. Governor Dayton has provided legislative leaders with frequent input this legislative session, sending 55 letters and 179 pages of input from state agency commissioners outlining his priorities. Despite these clear guidelines, House and Senate Republicans have jammed their budget bills with controversial policy provisions including private school vouchers, the elimination of voluntary, free pre-K, and invalidating city actions that protect workers’ pay and benefits.

 

Considering the state has a healthy economy and a budget surplus, I’m hopeful we will find a budget compromise that works for everyone.

 

Measles

This week on the House Floor, my colleagues made a motion to provide enhanced funding to the Minnesota Department of Health to address the current measles outbreak. The bill we were hoping to discuss would have funded an immunization grant program for specific geographic areas and populations experiencing (or at risk of) an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.Unfortunately, the House did not move forward on the procedural motion.  

 

The Minnesota Department of Health is warning that measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It can lead to hospitalization and in rare cases death. Measles spreads through the air by coughing or sneezing. You can get measles by just being in the same room as someone who has them.

 

Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically spreads from head to the rest of the body. A person with measles can pass it to others from four days before their rash appears to four days after it appears.

 

For parents concerned about the cost of immunizations, the Minnesota Vaccines for Children Program provides free or low-cost vaccines for eligible children through age 18. More information is available at Can My Child Get Free or Low Cost Shots?

 

For more information on measles, updates on the outbreak and important contact info you can go to the Minnesota Department of Health website here. You can also find a measles fact sheet translated in other languages here.

 

Citizens League: Talent within Range

Although unemployment in Minnesota is relatively low (about 4%), there are pockets of the state, like the Iron Range, which are still struggling with high unemployment rates. The non-partisan Citizen League, which is a group that aims to create common ground across political parties to address major problems facing Minnesota, will be visiting Chisholm to talk about possible solutions.  The event is May 18th and will focus on what can be done to create and maintain a strong workforce. Click the links below for more details.

 

Talent Within Range: Bridging the Workforce Divide in Greater Minnesota

Thursday, May 18
Doors: 5:30pm | Program: 6pm

Minnesota Discovery Center
1005 Discovery Dr
Chisholm, MN 55719 (map)

Tickets: $10 General | $5 Student with valid ID

 

With the last few weeks of session approaching, please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. Your input matters.

 

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund

State Representative