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Supreme Court Ruling and Minnesota's Childcare Providers

Monday, June 30, 2014

Dear Neighbors,

As we enter into this Fourth of July weekend, it’s wonderful to see the Supreme Court ruling in favor of liberty and freedom for small business owners and childcare providers in Minnesota.

On Monday, the Supreme Court released their decision for the case Harris v. Quinn, ruling that homecare workers in Illinois are not public employees and therefore cannot be compelled to join a public employee union. This ruling will have a direct impact on childcare providers in Minnesota.

For the past two years, Governor Dayton and the DFL have been trying to force childcare providers—small, independent business owners, into a union. This was not only a violation of their rights, but would have forced them to raise daycare costs to cover union dues or turn away children in need of care because their parents receive public assistance.

After Governor Dayton’s executive order to force childcare providers into a union vote was struck down by the courts, Democrats pushed a new childcare unionization law through the legislature. 

When the law was challenged by childcare providers, the federal appeals court in Minnesota put the law on hold until the Supreme Court case Harris v. Quinn was settled. With it now decided, it is very likely the federal courts in Minnesota will rule the law is unconstitutional in the case of Parrish v. Dayton.

This is a win for childcare providers and working parents across the state.

As your state representative, I will continue to fight on behalf of our freedoms and liberties. If I can ever be of assistance to you on a matter of state government, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Sincerely,

Brian