Lowering the cost of health care, affordable childcare, & mental health among priorities

During the first week of the 2019 legislative session, Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) joined his Minnesota Senate colleagues in unveiling their top priorities for the upcoming session, placing a focus on Minnesota families.

“Consistently, I hear from families in our community struggling to afford everything from health insurance, to childcare, to over taxation,” said Senator Westrom. “Our top legislative priorities this session aim to make life easier for families across Minnesota.”

Senator Westrom and his fellow legislators outlined an initial priority list that includes tackling Minnesota’s growing mental health crisis, especially regarding our schools and on the farm, addressing the need for affordable childcare in Greater Minnesota, making shopping for health care more transparent and guaranteeing coverage for preexisting conditions, conforming Minnesota’s tax code to the federal government’s code in order to fully pass on savings to taxpayers and avoid filing headaches, and holding government more accountable in the areas of child care fraud, our state DMV program MNLARS, and other statewide IT failures.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance, Senator Westrom looks to expand broadband access in Greater Minnesota and keep our farmers profitable through expanding markets and value-added agricultural processing opportunities.

“Greater Minnesota economic development benefits everyone in our state,” added Senator Westrom. “From helping families and small businesses with more rural broadband expansion to agricultural development, I look forward to growing our rural economy through policies that benefit Minnesota families.”

Residents of Senate District 12 can contact Senator Westrom toll-free at 855-407-7386, by email at sen.torrey.westrom@senate.mn, or by mail at 3201 Minnesota Senate Building, 95 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55155.