Hello Neighbor, We are in the second week of session here at the Capitol in St. Paul. It has been a flurry of bill introductions and learning new technology to accomplish our work, but I am grateful to be here representing you. I want you to know that the Senate is ready to tackle the tough issues around the COVID19 response, while keeping the best interests of all Minnesotans in mind. The value of having input from elected officials who represent citizens across the state is invaluable and I intend to keep pressuring the governor to reconsider decisions that have caused harm. Honoring Officer Matson On Thursday, Senate and House Republicans introduced a bill that strengthens state criminal penalties against individuals convicted of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, judge, prosecutor, or correctional officer. The legislation Senate File 82 increases the minimum sentence from 20 years with release under supervision after two-third of the sentence is served to life incarceration with a minimum of 30 years in prison before being eligible for release. The legislation was spurred after Officer Arik Matson, a Waseca police officer, was nearly killed in the line of duty last January. I am a proud supporter of Minnesota’s law enforcement. Our officers make the hard choices every day to protect us and our state. They go to work every day, acting selflessly despite the challenges that they face. We must increase the punishment for criminals that attempt to take the life of our officers who selflessly serve and protect their communities every day; we owe it to these men and women to pass this bill this session. Megan Matson, the wife of Waseca Police Officer Arik Matson, said, “Every day gets a little easier for our family, and we appreciate the support of the community as we move along in our journey. This legislation will help make sure law enforcement members and their families will have the full support of the justice system with them when a person tries to keep that law enforcement officer from ever seeing their family again.” Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Executive Director Jim Mortenson said, “Public safety officials face considerable danger in their day-to-day work. This proposal is a way for all of us to commit to supporting justice for those peace officers whose lives are threatened – just like Arik Matson and his bravery – as they continue to enter into dangerous situations on behalf of citizens of Minnesota.” Watch the press conference here. Click photo for my comments Vaccine now available to those over 65 On Thursday, Senate Republicans applauded the governor’s decision to allow hospitals and vaccine providers to vaccinate individuals aged 65 and older. Senators have been pressuring the governor to speed up vaccination processes by working with local partners and considering all options. Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out has been slower than the national average and much slower than our neighboring states. Minnesota has often thought of itself as a state that excels in health care areas, but when it has come to the distribution of the COVID vaccine, our state has lagged behind our neighbors, like Iowa, North Dakota, and now Wisconsin. While I appreciate the administration’s move to expand vaccinations out to Minnesotans 65 years and older, the Governor must work with us to distribute the vaccine quicker. An accelerated distribution can be the difference between life and death for people and businesses. It is critical that we get this right. Compared with persons aged 35-54 years, those aged 65-74 years have eight times higher risk, a nd those aged 75 years and older have over a thirty times higher risk for COVID-19 deaths. A number of Minnesota residents who testified in Senate committees this week cited concerns over the lack of communication to the public, nonexistent transparency regarding decisions being made about vaccination phases, the withholding of doses, and seniors not receiving a priority timeline. The CDC recently advised states they could vaccinate individuals 65 years and older. Other states had begun doing this much earlier than Minnesota. Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Committee hearing Minnesota ranked 48th With Minnesota looking to reboot our economy following the COVID pandemic and statewide lockdowns, our government must look for opportunities to grow new businesses that will bring jobs and restart economic growth in this state. Unfortunately, data from the U.S. Labor Department, has Minnesota ranked 48th in the rate of new entrepreneurs per capita in 2019 — and shows we’ve only exceeded the national average for four years of the last 20. We can’t continue to put Minnesota businesses on the brink or drive them out of the state. This pandemic has shown that there are negative consequences when you lock down a state for too long, we need to get our economy back on track ASAP. Click the photo to hear my comments  Stay in touch I’d like to remind residents that I am always available to answer your questions or concerns. Please email me anytime at sen.jason.rarick@senate.mn or call my office in St. Paul at 651-296-1508. Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving you in the Minnesota Senate! Like me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! |
