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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Michelle (Shelly) Christensen (DFL)

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#StaySafeMN

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Rep. Christensen

Dear Neighbors, 

We’re in the final days of the normal legislative session - though it's been far from normal - with the Minnesota House set to adjourn on Monday, May 18. We’ve been "virtually" meeting on the house floor on a near daily basis, something that will continue through this weekend, passing bills related to economic security, safe elections, prescription drug pricing transparency, a jobs and local projects bill, and more. Before I jump into our work in the House, I first wanted to provide an update on the latest from Governor Walz. 

 

#StaySafeMN

Yesterday, Governor Walz announced that the current stay at home order will expire as planned on Monday, May 18th. The order will be replaced with a new one allowing for more businesses to reopen, as well as other changes, as they meet public health parameters. The governor also extended his peacetime emergency powers through June 12th. These powers have enabled the governor to take necessary action to secure the safety of Minnesotans and provide emergency relief. 

#StaySafeMN

You can read the full executive order here

 

Safe and Secure Elections

It’s hard to say what the  COVID-19 pandemic will look like this summer and fall, but it is important to know that you can vote safely, in your own home for the August primary and November general elections. The Minnesota Secretary of State is making a new tool available for registered voters to request that their ballot be sent to them by mail for the August 11 statewide primary and/or the November 3 general election. You can request an absentee ballot here.

Coming into 2020, we knew we would have to take steps to ensure this year’s elections were secure from interference. Federal funds were allocated to Minnesota for this purpose, and in addition to improving accessibility and modernizing election security, funds were also made available to better ensure the health and safety of election officials and in-person voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Minnesota House, we voted to make sure these funds are being put to good use. You can read more about that bill here

HAVA Bill

Building Economic Security

Last week, we passed a package of legislation that incorporates several important economic measures that my colleagues and I in the DFL House have been working on. COVID-19 hasn’t only brought new problems, it’s also exposed the inequities that had already existed in our communities. The bill includes a temporary wage increase for personal care assistants (PCA), funding to expand broadband access, and small business loans. 

House Economic Agenda

Stay Connected, Stay Informed

Things are going to be moving very fast over the next couple of days. Greats ways to stay in the loop include following my Representative Shelly Christensen Facebook Pageand the House Public Information Webpage. You can read up on the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, raising the tobacco purchasing age to 21, and our new ban on TCE - a cancer-causing chemical. 

If you have any questions about our work in the legislature or the resources available to our community, feel free to reach out to me at rep.shelly.christensen@house.mn, or leave a voicemail at (651) 296-4244. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely, 

 

Representative Shelly Christensen

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