Dear neighbors,

It’s hard to believe that this week marked one whole year since I was sworn into the Minnesota House of Representatives! It’s been an honor to serve our community, and I look forward to continuing our work together during this year’s legislative session and beyond.

A photo from last year’s swearing-in ceremony.

Pushing for Action in Water Gremlin Investigation

Our community deserves to know what happened at the Water Gremlin facility and how it was handled. Rep. Peter Fischer, Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, and I are working with community members to find answers. Yesterday we urged Minnesota’s Legislative Auditor to take action on a Special Investigation on Water Gremlin and share their findings with the public. The results of this independent investigation will help us work collectively to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.

You can read our statement and the letter that Rep. Fischer, Rep. Becker-Finn, and I sent Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles here. We will continue to provide updates as we receive more information about the status of the Water Gremlin investigation.

New Laws Take Effect

A few notable laws that we passed last year took effect on January 1, including legislation that increases oversight and transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These pharmaceutical middle men play a significant role in driving up the cost of prescription drugs. The new law is a step in the right direction, but we have the ability to make more progress in this area. This year I’ll continue championing policies that stop price gouging, provide greater transparency, and ensure all Minnesotans can access and afford insulin and other life-saving medications.

An overview of the new laws is available here.

Climate Action Caucus Holds a Series of Community Conversations

Last year, thousands of young Minnesotans called for action on climate change during marches at the Capitol and in more than a dozen cities. In response, my House colleagues and I formed the Climate Action Caucus, a dedicated group of legislators that’s working with Minnesotans on a bold, comprehensive plan to address the climate crisis. We’ve held several community conversations on a variety of topics, including transportation, housing, and public health. Our next event will bring legislators, policy experts, and Minnesotans together to discuss the intersection of climate and environmental issues.

I hope you can join me and the Climate Action Caucus for one of these conversations! You can sign up for updates and find more information about upcoming events here.

Make Your Voice Heard

Be a Voter in the 2020 Presidential Primary

The 2020 presidential primary will take place on Tuesday, March 3, but early voting begins Friday, January 17! Please take a few minutes to check if you’re registered and make a voting plan. You can update your voter registration status, order an absentee ballot, and find your polling place here.

For the first time since 1992, Minnesotans have the opportunity to participate in a presidential primary instead of a caucus this year. Here’s a few frequently asked questions about how the presidential nomination process will work:

Who will be on the ballot?
Each major party will have a separate ballot. A list of presidential candidates submitted by the party will be listed on each ballot.

Will any other offices be on the ballot?
No, only presidential candidates will appear on the ballot. Other offices with a primary will be on the ballot in August.

Will there still be precinct caucuses?
Yes, precinct caucuses and local and state nominating conventions will still take place in order to conduct other party business.

I hope you’ll continue to share your input and ideas in the New Year!

Sincerely,

Ami Wazlawik
State Representative