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Dear Neighbors,
Legislators returned to St. Paul on Feb. 11 to convene the 2020 legislative session. It’s a new year, but Minnesotans’ values and the values that guide my work at the Capitol haven’t changed. We know that Minnesotans care about each other and want to see one another succeed.
Minnesotans are still asking for world-class schools, affordable health care, and safe and inclusive communities. Minnesotans are still asking us to address equity, whether it’s the opportunity gap or health outcomes. Your voice and values can inspire action at our state Capitol, so I’m asking all of us to speak up, together.
If you have a personal story, idea, or question related to business at the State Capitol, please get in touch. You can find my full contact information online at www.house.mn/52B. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here.
Continue reading to learn more about what I’ve been up to lately and what I hope we can accomplish together in this year’s legislative session.
Sincerely,
Ruth Richardson
State Representative
Our latest equity roundtable was a success
Thank you to everyone who attended the Feb. 10 Equity Roundtable on addressing education disparities. We need community-based solutions to make meaningful change. I’d like to thank my colleague Rep. Rena Moran of St. Paul for co-hosting the event with me. I’m especially grateful to our special guests Justice Alan Page, Mikisha Nation, and Meredith Moore Crosby.
Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act Introduced
Minnesotans are facing two crises: education opportunity gaps and inaccessible and unaffordable child care. The 2020 legislative session kicked off with a bold proposal to invest $500 million in early care and learning targeted at Minnesotans from birth to age three. I’m committed to investments in early care and learning to support families and close education opportunity gaps -- because I believe all children deserve a great start in life. Children, parents, and childcare providers all stand to benefit from our proposal. Read more in this story from the Associated Press.
Public hearing about what happens if Affordable Care Act is overturned in court
Right now, President Trump is trying to overturn the Affordable Care Act in court. If he is successful, nothing would prevent insurance companies from denying care to Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions. The Health and Human Services Finance Division held a public hearing on Feb. 13 to learn more about the consequences we face. Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm testified that state public health operations would be thrown into disarray in ways that are hard to even imagine, much less quantify, and an estimated 450,000 Minnesotans could lose coverage. Learn more by reading a recap of the hearing here.
Important information about REAL ID and how to get one
Minnesotans with questions about REAL ID and the upcoming enforcement deadline of Oct. 1, 2020, can get help by visiting the Department of Public Safety’s website. My office is also able to provide assistance.
Consider a REAL ID now or when you renew your license or ID card prior to Oct. 1, 2020.
The best way to make sure applicants for a REAL ID or other license type have everything you need before you visit a driver’s license office is to pre-apply online here. This feature allows Minnesotans to enter a significant portion of their application online, reducing the time they spend in the office. It also lists the required documents for each license type so applicants can have all necessary documents ready when they visit their local office.
Minnesotans who have questions or concerns about the status of their license or ID card can contact the Department of Vehicle Services by email at dvs.driverslicense@state.mn.us or by phone at 651-297-3298. Include your full name and date of birth with your question in the email.
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