Friends and neighbors,
This week the governor gave his first State of the State address. It was a speech filled with a number of compelling stories from Minnesotans who have lost loved ones on our roads or who are facing mental health issues. Many of the stories were heartbreaking, but they don’t change the fact that his speech didn’t include any details about the policies he is proposing to remedy these issues. The stories are great, but stories don’t balance budgets. He owes it to you to clearly and definitively tell you the specifics of his proposals and explain how he is going to pay for everything he wants to do. Unfortunately, the answer is that he is going to stick you with the bill.
The pace of session slowed down a little bit this week. We have passed our first two legislative deadlines, and now budget bills are being heard and marked up in their committees of jurisdiction. I will keep you updated as some of these larger budget bills are finalized, but in the meantime here is a brief recap of what happened at the legislature this week.
- Taking care of Minnesota veterans: The Veterans budget is one of the budget bills working through the process right now. Our plan increases funding for Support Our Troops grants, which support and improve the lives of veterans and their families. We also appropriate money for a Medal of Honor Commemorative Memorial and for construction and refurbishment of the Armed Forces Service Center at the MSP airport. In addition, our bill establishes a day to raise awareness of Veteran suicide, a POW/MIA Recognition Day, and a day to recognize our American Allies in Vietnam.
- Mental health support: I hear from a lot of my constituents who are concerned about mental health. The Senate majority is committed to providing the resources necessary for rapid, appropriate treatment and care in mental health crises. We are doing this with $25 million for mental health grants to a wide variety of populations, including farmers, K-12 and college students, veterans, women battling postpartum depression, and more. We are also adding mental health insurance coverage requirements to make sure people have easier access to the support they need.
- Epi pen good Samaritan legislation: Roughly 10% of citizens carry epi pens. You may be one of this 10%, but did you know that current law prohibits you from using your epi pen to save someone who has gone into anaphylactic shock? This week, the Senate passed a bill to eliminate this rule, so any certified individual can administer their epi pen to another individual. Allergic reactions can rapidly turn dangerous and removing this old statute will save lives.
- Addressing Chronic Wasting Disease: The Senate Environment Committee this week heard a bill that would begin to address a growing concern in Minnesota, especially among hunters – Chronic Wasting Disease. This is a neurological disease similar to Mad Cow that impacts Cervid populations like deer and elk. It has already been spreading through parts of Minnesota. Our bill will provide resources to the U of M to figure out early diagnostic testing and prevention methods.
If you have any questions about these bills or anything else happening at the legislature, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My phone number is 651-296-5981, and my email issen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn.
Sincerely,