Dear Neighbors, Once again, and in the wake of successfully passing legislation to bypass an immediate homelessness crisis caused by President Trump, we tried to pass the emergency rental assistance that our community and communities across the state desperately need. I shared the story of a Richfield family, what they went through during Operation Metro Surge, and how rental assistance would be a lifeline to them. Unfortunately, once again, every Republican in the Minnesota House voted against this assistance that our neighbors desperately need, despite the fact that it received bipartisan support in the Senate. We were also reminded this week that for many, Operation Metro Surge never ended. That’s certainly the case for Liam Ramos and his family. When the Trump administration tells you they’re going after “the worst of the worst,” that message doesn’t exactly line up with the federal government’s focus on this 5-year-old boy from Columbia Heights. It lays bare what Operation Metro Surge has always been about: retribution. Retribution for a state and people that continue to push back against the cruelty we continue to see from the Trump administration. Yesterday, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced that its 2026 Profile In Courage Award would go to the people of the Twin Cities. As someone who’s seen what our community has been capable of these last few months, that doesn’t come as a surprise. Time and again, I’ve seen Minnesotans display tremendous courage in the face of immense force. Continuing to show up every day to protect their neighbors and support their communities. All we’re looking for now is an ounce of that courage in House Republicans. Fighting for affordable access to prescription drugs Doctors and patients should decide together which treatments are the best course of action without interference from insurance companies. That is at the heart of legislation I am authoring to ban the use of “step therapy” for insulin. “Step therapy” otherwise known as “fail first” is a process by which insurance companies can force patients to use a specific type of medication that is cheaper for the insurance company (not necessarily the patient). They can force the patient to use this medication until it “fails,” and only after that can they get on a medication their doctor believes is best to help them manage their chronic condition. This is outrageous. It shouldn’t be allowed in any circumstance, but it is particularly problematic for Minnesotans with Type 1 Diabetes. All insulins do not interact the same way for patients, and changes can have serious health consequences. My bill would ban this practice so that Minnesotans and doctors are making these decisions – not insurance companies. In partnership, Michael Howard |