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

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Legislative Update - February 7, 2019

Thursday, February 7, 2019
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Dear Northlanders,

Monday I had the opportunity to attend a reception hosted by the Minnesota Commanders’ Task Force. This was a great gathering with all nine congressionally-chartered veterans service organizations. Spending time with men and women who have put on the uniform of our country makes my job as Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee all the more special.

I also had good visits with constituents who made the trip down such as these members of the Minnesota Farmers Union and a group of trappers, respectively.

Wage Theft

The Department of Labor and Industry estimates that over the course of a year, 39,000 Minnesota workers will experience wage theft, totaling $12,000,000 of pay kept from those who worked hard for that money. We’ve seen this in the form of misidentifying workers as independent contractors, withholding tips, denied breaks, forced work off the clock and others.

This week the House Labor Committee passed a bill which would both increase DOLI’s ability to enforce anti-wage theft measures and increase penalties for those businesses who participate in it. A day’s work deserves a day’s pay, period. I’m proud to support this bill to help ensure economic security for all working Minnesotans.

Prescription Drug Price Gouging

Many Minnesotans depend on prescription medication to live day to day. Unfortunately, costs continue to spike for Minnesotans to an absolutely unreasonable degree. One example, insulin, has about tripled in price the last 15 years. Some have folks with diabetes have felt like they have no alternative but to ration their supply of insulin, and for some of these, this has led to tragedy. No one should be forced to make such a choice, and it’s incomprehensible why prescription drugs should be so much more expensive here than they are in other countries.

One measure moving through the House would prohibit the practice of price gouging for pharmaceutical drugs. The bill would empower the Attorney General to investigate a manufacturer or wholesaler if the price of a particular drug jumps too high under certain circumstances, and if found to be unconscionable price gouging, the bill contains penalties for this. If you’ve experienced this yourself, I’d be particularly interested in hearing your story.

Prison Safety

Every day, dedicated public servants work to maintain safe environments and deliver positive programming within the walls of our state correctional facilities. Tragically, two of these individuals, Officer Joseph Gomm and Officer Joseph Parise, have lost their lives in the past year due to unsafe conditions.

The House Corrections Division is working to get to the bottom of these issues, recently touring the facility in Stillwater and taking the unprecedented step of holding a hearing at the prison. Through this, we can learn more about the resources the Department of Corrections needs to keep both correctional officers and offenders alike safe, and the solutions they need to help ensure those who go to prison can reenter the community without making a return visit. There’s a bipartisan commitment to take action on this issue.

Be sure to keep contacting me with your input and ideas. I’m honored to represent you.

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund

State Representative


Rep. Rob Ecklund
409 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

www.house.mn/03A
 
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Chair, House Veterans and Military Affairs Policy and Finance Division

Phone: 651-296-2190
E-mail: rep.rob.ecklund@house.mn
Legislative Assistant: Josh Kilgard, 651-296-3918