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Dear Neighbors,
As we prepare for budget negotiations with the Senate, I’m focused on ensuring we pass a budget that invests in our kids, our families, our communities, and our environment. On Saturday, I joined more than 70 community members at an event organized by ISAIAH for a conversation about how we can build an inclusive state and ensure all Minnesotans have what they need to thrive. I’ll be guided by the values and voices of folks in our district and community throughout the budget process.
State Budget Update
The House finished passing our budget bills on Monday! Now that we’ve approved comprehensive plans for each area of the budget, we’re waiting for the Senate to finish passing their own proposals. This week, we started the next step in the process, where legislators from both chambers are appointed to “conference committees.” Members of these joint committees will meet and try to find a compromise and develop a bill that the House and Senate will both approve.
Earlier this week, I was appointed to the State Government, Veterans, and Elections Conference Committee. As House DFLers, our goal is to find solutions that strengthen the role of Minnesotans in our democracy – no matter where they live, what they look like, or who they vote for. I’m eager to deliver a budget that supports the critical work of our state government by making strong investments in veterans, state workers, and the agencies administering services that Minnesotans rely on.
Supporting Workers and Small Businesses
One of the budget bills the House passed last week aims to ensure Minnesotans have the economic security that they deserve. In addition to providing Paid Family & Medical Leave and Earned Sick & Safe Time for every worker, this budget will help people who lost their job or had their small business struggle due to the pandemic. It also prioritizes workers’ rights, racial equity, and main street businesses across the state. I’m happy to report that my plan to provide tens of thousands of hourly school workers with access to unemployment benefits was included as well! If you’d like to learn more about this provision, you can watch my speech about it here.
Improving Health and Human Services
All Minnesotans deserve access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and House DFLers are working to make that vision a reality. On Monday night, we approved a Health and Human Services Budget that expands healthcare coverage and paves the way for a public option. There are plenty of things to be excited about in the bill, but I’m particularly excited about the measures that would address inequalities in several areas, including maternal health; codify important Affordable Care Act provisions – like those that protect people with preexisting conditions – into state law; and make prescription drugs more affordable.
Rent and Energy Assistance Available
On a related note, rent and energy assistance are available for Minnesotans who are struggling to make ends meet. To find out if you’re eligible for help with overdue rent and utilities, low- and moderate-income renters can visit renthelpmn.org and download the renter checklist. Resources are available for landlords as well.
Minnesotans can also apply for help with utility payments, disconnections or fuel deliveries, and repairing or replacing heating systems. You can find more information about the state’s Energy Assistance Plan at the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website.
Exciting Census Results Released
On Monday, the U.S. Census released the numbers that will determine reapportionment – how many congressional seats and electoral college votes each state gets for the next decade. Thanks to strong participation from Minnesotans and many community-led efforts, Minnesota maintained our eighth congressional seat by a slim margin! Now that these numbers have been released, legislators will start the redistricting process. We need to ensure that Minnesotans can participate in this process and that our district maps reflect the diverse backgrounds, voices, and interests of the communities and people that make our state great.
Take My Legislative Survey
Finally, I’d like to remind you to complete my legislative survey if you haven’t responded yet. Your input will help inform my decisions as we approach the last few weeks of the legislative session. Thank you to everyone who has already shared their feedback!
Stay Connected
If you’d like to stay informed as we work to deliver a budget that works for Minnesotans, please like my Facebook page for frequent updates. Feel free to share this email with family, friends, and neighbors who might be interested as well; if they’d like to subscribe, they can do so at https://bit.ly/GreenmanUpdates.
Please continue sharing your questions, ideas, and feedback and let me know if I can be of assistance. You can reach me at rep.emma.greenman@house.mn or 651-296-4200.
Sincerely,
Emma Greenman
State Representative
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