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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL)

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Legislative Update - May 17, 2019

Friday, May 17, 2019
 
Neighbors,

While we continue to negotiate on a full state budget that we hope will bump us up from the #3 to #1 best state, yesterday we passed bipartisan legislation to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. 

The legislation will regulate and require transparency from a little-known but powerful part of the healthcare industry, called Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs. PBMs are a middle man between drug manufacturers and patients, and they have the ability and strong incentives to raise drug prices. They've been allowed with no accountability or transparency, preventing pharmacies from offering lower-cost drugs, taking home giant profits, and leaving patients with the bill. 

All Minnesotans deserve the highest standard of healthcare and medication that they can afford. Yesterday, we stood up for Minnesotans who depend on these prescriptions to stay healthy, and took a significant step in reducing the price of prescription drugs. The bill is now on its way to the Governor's desk for signature! Read more about the bill here and here

Tribal Police Autonomy
Today, the House passed my bill to remove the requirement that federally-recognized tribes in Minnesota need consent from their local county sheriff in order for their police departments to enforce state laws on reservations. This law will strengthen the safety and the security of our American Indian communities and I'm so grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this bill. 

International Year of Indigenous Languages
On Tuesday, I presented a House Resolution raising awareness of endangered languages by recognizing 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Of the world's 6,700 languages, 40 percent are in danger of disappearing, the majority of which belong to Indigenous people.
 
Languages play a crucial role in our daily lives, not only as a medium of communication, education, and social interaction, but as the heart of each individual's unique identity, culture, history, and memory, and I commend all those who work to preserve and restore languages around the world. Here's the resolution: 
 

Page Program
The House High School Page Program is an awesome opportunity to provide young people with hands-on learning and access to our government. Minnesota has one of the top page programs in the nation - look for the application period to open in August - November. Check out the program here

Lily Carter is a Junior from St. Anthony Village who participated in the program - I was blown away by her leadership and passion for the environment. Visitors like Lily are a great reminder of work we need to do to build a state that will help and support the generations to come. 


New Brighton Clean-Up Day
If you haven't started spring cleaning yet, now's the time! Tomorrow from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm is New Brighton's clean-up day. Bring your old electronics, couches, car tires (and more) to the USPS at 700 5th St NW. More info here
 

We're working hard to find compromise with the Republican-led Senate, though we may be looking at an extension to our planned May 20 adjournment. Taking extra time to get the budget done right is important - we will not sacrifice funding for our schools or health care for those who need it in exchange for tax cuts for the wealthy.

Please continue to reach out with your feedback! Hearing from you helps me advocate and improve our community at the Capitol. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Mary KP