Hello Northlanders,

I want to start by wishing all 2021 graduates a sincere congratulations. Learning over the past year has been unquestionably difficult, with unprecedented challenges and roadblocks along your journey toward this accomplishment. Due to the pandemic, you’ve had to navigate this situation without many of the experiences you have come to expect you’d be able to enjoy during this special period in your life, not just in the classroom, but also sports, arts, and other activities. Please know that while the circumstances were far from ideal, your ability to persevere and adapt to a constantly changing educational environment will prepare you for all of the unpredictability that comes in life. Again, congratulations, and best wishes for whatever comes next.

Combating the Spread of CWD

All session long, I’ve worked to advance a comprehensive package of solutions to stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) throughout the state. To protect our wild white-tailed deer population, and to ensure we can continue our cherished hunting traditions, it’s imperative that we control this devastating neurological disease in our cervid population. Many instances of CWD are connected to deer farms, including a recent discovery of CWD at a dumping site in Beltrami County which a former deer farm used to discard carcasses.

One of my proposals is to transfer oversight of deer farms from the Board of Animal Health to the Department of Natural Resources, which has a better set of tools and expertise to tackle the problem. I’m working to ensure this provision is included in our Environment and Natural Resources budget, and earlier this week Governor Walz announced his support of the measure.

As we see CWD pop up in new spots, with many of the locations linked directly to deer farms, Minnesota leaders have an urgent responsibility to take a new approach. I’m hopeful we can come to an agreement on this and other proposals to protect deer hunting in Minnesota.

Special Health Insurance Enrollment Period and New Tax Credits

Many Minnesotans struggle with the high cost of health insurance. Some good news came this week though for those who buy their insurance on the individual market. The American Rescue Plan – passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden earlier this year – increased federal tax credits toward health insurance premiums, and eligibility for the tax credits has been expanded. MNSure, our state health insurance exchange, has updated its system to reflect these changes. As a result, Minnesotans can now shop, compare, and enroll into plans with new cost savings by taking advantage of MNSure’s special enrollment period, which is open until July 16th.  If you didn’t qualify for a tax credit when you previously shopped around for health insurance, it would be worth it to take another look. If you need help, certified navigators are available here.

Free Park Saturday

Tomorrow, June 12, admission at all of Minnesota’s 75 state parks and recreation areas will be free. This is one of four such days the Department of Natural Resources offers annually. Get outside and explore everything our great state has to offer. A full map of state parks is available here.

Please continue to contact me with your feedback and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund
State Representative