Legislative Update- October 1, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’ve been enjoying the transition from summer to fall. You may be interested in checking out the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ fall color finder to catch the best spots for peak leaf viewing across the state.

Plymouth’s last farmer market for the season will be on Wednesday, October 9 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. at Parkers Lake Playfield, County Road 6 and Niagara Lane. You can find more details here.

Here’s an update from the Capitol:

Mini-Session

This week, the Minnesota House of Representatives will be on the road! From October 2-4, we’ll be holding a historic mini-session in Winona and the surrounding communities. Southeastern Minnesota will host legislators as a number of committee hearings, roundtable discussions, and informative tours will take place in Winona, Austin, and Rochester.

Though the Minnesota House doesn’t officially reconvene until February 2020, the mini-session offers a chance for my colleagues and me to see our work through a different lens outside of St. Paul. The last mini-session was in 1997 in Willmar, and we’re hoping our work this year restarts the tradition of holding offsite hearings as part of our efforts to make the Minnesota House more responsive and accessible. You can find an agenda of events here.

Climate Action Caucus

Recently, my colleagues and I announced the formation of the Climate Action Caucus in conjunction with young Minnesotans who participated in the worldwide Youth Climate Strike, which took place on September 20.

Climate Action Caucus members will create an ambitious agenda based on input from Minnesotans. The Minnesota Climate Action Plan will draw on the unique advantages of our state – generous, hard-working people; innovative businesses; world-class colleges and universities; and vast natural resources – to find solutions and establish Minnesota as a national leader in the fight against climate change. All legislators from all backgrounds are invited to participate.

We held our first planning meeting last week. As Minnesotans sharing one environment, we’re all in this together, and I look forward to identifying positive policy changes with my colleagues to find a path forward.

Emergency Insulin

Last week, the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Finance Division held a public hearing to discuss the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act and other solutions to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin and other prescription drugs. The price of insulin has tripled in the last decade, and studies indicate that 1 in 4 diabetics have resorted to rationing their insulin due to the high cost. Nobody should ever have to ration or skip the medication they rely on to survive.

I am encouraged the Senate has begun to acknowledge the accessibility and affordability barriers too many Minnesotans are facing with insulin. Although advocates have testified the Senate proposal might play a role in addressing insulin affordability, they have concerns that it might not adequately handle emergency situations. Nicole Smith-Holt – Alec’s mother – and Cindy Scherer Boyd, whose son Jesimya Scherer-Radcliff died in July after rationing insulin, argue the House bill would allow for quicker assistance in emergencies. 

I’ll continue to do all I can to ensure Minnesotans can access affordable insulin- especially in emergency situations.

Keep in Touch

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or input. I appreciate hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Ginny Klevorn

State Representative