On Tuesday, Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point) joined the Senate Republican majority in outlining top priorities as the 2019 legislative session officially convened. The priorities, which includes childcare, health care, mental health, government accountability, and taxes, indicate areas of bipartisan agreement that will be considered early in the session.

“The legislature will consider a host of really important issues this session. I’m looking forward to another year representing the interests of the people in the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley in the Minnesota Senate,” said Senator Housley. “The legislature will tackle a host of issues that will be challenging, but important. It’s a new session, but the goal remains the same: bipartisan solutions on the serious issues facing Minnesotans.”

Early priorities include:

• Supporting mental health. There will be a stronger legislative response to the growing problem of mental health treatment, especially in our schools and rural communities.
• Making child care more accessible and affordable. Minnesota parents are struggling to find, and afford, childcare. New legislation will address the regulatory overreach causing these problems and encourage new child care providers to start up.
• Lowering health care costs. Legislation will be considered that offers patients more freedom in choosing their doctor, the flexibility to shop around for the best value, and makes health care billing more transparent.
• A more effective, accountable government. Government must be held accountable and stop waste, particularly in the areas of childcare fraud and statewide I.T. failures.
• Making our tax code simpler and fairer. In addition to simplifying tax filing by conforming to federal tax laws, the legislature will consider proposals to simplify the tax code and reduce taxes for Minnesota families.

In addition to serving as an assistant majority leader for the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions, Senator Housley will serve as chairwoman of the new Senate Family Care and Aging Committee.

“The Family Care and Aging Committee will likely be the first stop for most of these bills and our other priorities, including elder care reform, affording college, and addressing government red tape. We’ll tackle the legislation that matters to Minnesota families,” Senator Housley continued. “I’m confident we will find ways to work together and deliver for our constituents.”

Senator Karin Housley, of St. Marys Point, is in her second term representing District 39, which includes Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Forest Lake, and other communities in Washington and Chisago counties. Senator Housley is chairwoman of the Family Care and Aging Committee and serves as an assistant majority leader.