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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Kristin Robbins (R)

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Health & Human Services Hearing & Bonding Tour Stops By

Friday, September 13, 2019

Dear Friends & Neighbors,


I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend and that school and fall schedules are off to a great start! I am excited about how well the Twins and Vikings are doing and can't wait to watch the big game against Green Bay on Sunday!

HHS Hearing

Although we still haven't been able to hold hearings on the mismanagement at DHS, we were able to raise our concerns with House Policy Committee Chair Rena Moran this week at the beginning of a hearing on a bill for assisted suicide. 

This week, the day after World Suicide Prevention Day and during Suicide Prevention Month, the House HHS policy committee had an informational hearing on a proposal to allow assisted suicide in Minnesota.  We heard from multiple witnesses on both sides but were severely restricted in our ability to ask questions.  If the bill is given a "regular" hearing during the 2020 session, Chair Moran has pledged to give unlimited time for our questions on this bill, which would have far-reaching, lethal consequences.

Speaker Hortman has said no hearings will be held in the House on the turmoil at DHS for 90 days to give the new DHS Commissioner time to get settled in her new job. As I said during the hearing, we will be happy to give the new Commissioner 90 days, but there is no reason we cannot call the employees responsible for the programs that have demonstrated fraud or mismanagement to testify before the committee right now. The longer we wait, the less likely those who had direct knowledge of the problems will still be available to testify - indeed, several have already left.

Local Investment Projects

The House Capital Investment Committee stopped in Rogers and Maple Grove on their Bonding Tour last week. I joined the bus tour in Rogers and discussed the importance of three important projects in our district: Rogers Pedestrian Bridge over I-94; and in Maple Grove, completion the connection between 610, I-94 and County Rd. 30; and expansion of the North Metro range to better train law enforcement officer from 19 different federal, state, county and local agencies in decision-making, de-escalation, and firearms training.

Stay tuned to my Facebook page over the next few weeks and I will be sharing a few quick videos from the project sites!

 

Remembering 9/11

Never forget the evil of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. We will always honor & remember the nearly 3000 victims & their families. We also honor the brave heroes – first responders & ordinary citizens – who tried to rescue & recover the victims. May God bless America!

100th Anniversary

Last Sunday, I was honored to celebrate Minnesota’s Women Suffrage Day with my colleagues and other women elected officials from across the state at the Capitol today. Minnesota became the 15th state to ratify the 19th Amendment 100 years ago, on September 8, 1919.

At the time of passage, during the 41st Session of the Minnesota Legislature, both houses of the legislature and the Governor’s office were led by Republicans.  The vote in the MN House was 120 ayes to 6 no’s and the vote in the Senate was 60 ayes to 5 no’s, meeting the requirement for a 2/3 majority in each body.

Rep. Robbins with elected women from across Minnesota! 

Civil Air Patrol opportunities for Students

This week I spoke to the impressive cadets at the North Hennepin Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol at the Crystal Airport and learned about their excellent STEM aerospace curriculum, leadership development, and community service. The Civil Air Patrol is open to students and adults with an interest in aviation and service. They also partner with local schools and provide curriculum and opportunities to learn about aerospace. To find out more, check out:  https://www.nhscap.org/

Touring training facilities

I also had the opportunity to tour the Apprenticeship Training Center run by the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters (NCSRCC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) #110 in St. Paul. This excellent facility provides training for carpenters, electricians, millwrights, floor coverers and others in the construction trades in our region. The facility is run jointly by the unions and their contractors to ensure that apprentices are learning the skills needed on the job.


Dayton Lions Club

I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the Dayton Lions and learn more about their top priorities at the legislature, including a bill to preserve their non-profit eye donation model and a bill to eliminate the tax on charitable gambling so more money stays in the community. I am a co-author of both of these bills and the HHS Policy Committee held an informational hearing on the Lions Gift of Sight bill this week. I will continue to work on both bills in the 2020 Legislative session.

Photos from the week

 

Rep. Robbins with Preceptis Medical, a medical device startup

  
More photos from the 100th Anniversary Celebration!

Please Contact Me 

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance. My office phone number is 651-296-7806 or by email at rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn. My office is located on the second floor of the State Office Building in room 225.

Have a great weekend! 

House Image

Kristin

Like and follow my Facebook Page for updates throughout the week: Facebook.com/RepKristinRobbins