Dear Northlanders,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and that 2020 is treating you well so far. With temperatures dropping, here’s a reminder that if you or someone you know is struggling with heating bills, help is available. The Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Energy Assistance Program can help with payments, advocacy with power companies and human service providers, heating system repairs, and more. Additionally, the state’s Cold Weather Rule is in effect which provides protections to prevent heat shutoffs. The Public Utilities Commission has more information here.

Today, I was honored to be on hand for the ribbon cutting at the new Armed Forces Service Center at MSP Airport. As chair of the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division, I was proud to have helped deliver funding for this new space. Open 24 hours a day, it has amenities for traveling service members like a lounge space, a dining area with complimentary food, a business center, a storage room, showers, and bunks.

I was also honored to be a part of the ribbon cutting for the reopening of the truss bridge at the Veterans Home in Minneapolis. Originally constructed in 1908, the bridge had been closed to vehicles in 1987, and due to critical structural deficiencies, it was closed to pedestrians as well in 2014. In 2017, the Legislature delivered $7.8 million toward reconstruction of the bridge, which serves as a vital access to the facility.

Combating CWD

I hope your 2019 deer hunting season was safe and successful. In previous updates, I highlighted some of our efforts to stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease. CWD is a slowly progressive and ultimately fatal brain disease in cervid animals like deer, elk, moose, and reindeer spread animal-to-animal. In addition to the prior cases found in southeastern Minnesota and in Crow Wing County, a deer with CWD was recently discovered in Douglas County. In response, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued a temporary emergency rule prohibiting the movement of all farmed white-tailed deer within the state.

I thank the DNR for taking his quick, decisive action. Our state has a rich outdoor heritage, and deer hunting is a significant part of this. Without a healthy deer population, the traditions we pass on from generation to generation could be in jeopardy. I’ll continue to support proactive efforts from the DNR as well as the research being done at the University of Minnesota and at the Board of Animal Health to stop the spread of CWD.

New Presidential Nominating Primary

For the first time this year, on March 3, Minnesotans will participate in a presidential primary. No matter what your party affiliation is, it's important to cast your vote and help ensure our government is representative of our shared values. Democracy works best when all voices are heard.

Absentee balloting begins on January 17, which is less than two weeks away. You can order an absentee ballot or update your voter registration here. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has answers to some frequently asked questions about the new primary here.

Jan. 1 New Laws

Depending on the legislation, new laws approved in the previous legislative session take effect at various points in the year. On January 1, a few notable measures took effect. The trading of teeth, tusks, and horns from species like elephants, hippopotamuses, or rhinoceroses is now prohibited. Middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) – who have played a significant role in the rapid increase in prescription drug prices – are now be subject to licensure. Finally, as part of our groundbreaking opioid stewardship law, medical professionals will be required to take classes to learn about best practices in prescribing pain medications. Even before this requirement took effect, the amount of prescriptions written for pain medication has already dropped by one-third since 2016 in the state’s public health programs. These results show a bright spot in the efforts to combat our state’s opioid crisis.

You can read more about these measures from House Public Information Services here.

Please continue to contact me with what’s on your mind or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol.

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund
State Representative