A key example of compromise legislation we got across the finish line will stabilize Hennepin County Medical Center. Using a combined method of the General Fund and my legislation to use rainy day budget reserves, HCMC will be able to continue to keep its doors open. A provision in the bill creates an Advisory Task Force on Governance and Financing of Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc. to develop recommendations about how to keep HCMC viable amid federal Medicaid cuts. It was critical to address student and teacher safety in the aftermath of the Annunciation shooting and Operation Metro Surge. We successfully fought for and passed investments in mental health support for our students and anonymous threat reporting for our communities. I’m also glad we passed solutions to combat and prevent fraud, protecting Minnesotans' state dollars, and ensuring public services are going to the folks who need it most. Minnesotans are facing soaring prescription health care premiums, higher gas prices due to the ongoing war in Iran, federal tariffs increasing costs, along with record high food shelf visits. We took action to increase property tax refunds and lower vehicle registration tab fees to help alleviate these economic strains. I’m encouraged that we also passed a robust, bipartisan $1.2 billion infrastructure improvement package which will create more local jobs. Within that package, I helped secure $6.1 million in clean water infrastructure for the city of Apple Valley and $9.1 million for Minnesota Zoo maintenance.  PHOTO: Michele Jokinen, Minnesota House Photography While we were able to get some good work done, residents deserve bold, forward-thinking measures to make real progress on the proposals I hear about most from our neighbors: - A comprehensive gun violence prevention package that includes an assault weapons ban, safe storage proposals, mental health, and school safety funding. As a founding member of the DFL Responsible Gun Ownership Caucus, these are all common sense proposals everyone should be able to get behind.
- An ICE response package that would keep ICE out of our schools and hospitals, help our small businesses harmed by the Surge, and protect Minnesotans’ constitutional rights.
- Bills to level the economic playing field, like stopping unfair practices such as surveillance pricing that hurts consumers and taking on the insurance industry to lower health care costs.
Keep in TouchThank you for the honor of serving our Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan neighbors at the State Capitol. As we prepare to gather with friends and family over the weekend, let us take a moment to reflect upon and honor the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces. May their service be remembered always. I hope to see you tomorrow! John  |