Federal and State UpdateWe are approaching the fourth week of the Republican shutdown of the federal government in Washington D.C.. Republicans control the Presidency and both houses of Congress, and their failure to pass a budget bill with total control is a sign of how far they are willing to let our country slide than to keep the government operating and working for our neighbors. That's disappointing. While we may all face premium increases this year, those in the individual market will experience even more significant challenges, especially our farmers who operate as independent contractors. Additionally, the impending loss of Medicare Advantage services threatens the continuity of care for many seniors, forcing them to switch doctors at a vulnerable time in their lives. As a type 2 diabetic myself, I've been fortunate to be able to manage it through a affordable and accessible care. Unfortunately, with the anticipated changes to my insurance, my deductible will increase, along with thousands of others, impacting accessbility to care. We must focus on stabilizing our health care and hospital system. What is unfolding in Washington is not helpful and deserves bipartisan attention. It is essential to prioritize patient care over politics and work collaboratively to find lasting solutions.  Although state legislators have no control over federal budget decisions, I’m working with state agencies to track the impact on Minnesotans, particularly the thousands of federal employees who no longer have paychecks. Our congressional representative Angie Craig has resources for impacted constituents here. Minnesota is home to 20,000 federal workers and most of us rely on some federal service in our day-to-day lives. Amid rising prices for health premiums, electricity, groceries, and gasoline, to add insult to injury, thousands of Minnesotans and their families are at risk of losing food security in the coming weeks, just as we approach the holiday season. More than 440,000 Minnesotans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table. In Dakota County alone, 21,585 residents rely on this support to eat. If the federal shutdown continues into November, funding will run out for these critical food benefits. For many families, their situations could go from extremely challenging to downright dire. This potential pause in benefits is on top of the new paperwork requirements for SNAP recipients while previous exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and youth aging out of foster care have been eliminated. These burdensome requirements will serve as a barrier to Minnesotans getting the food they need. One in nine Minnesotans-that’s nearly 500,000 Minnesotans don’t know where their next meal is coming from. While we’ve made progress to get more support for food shelves and ensure all kids have a hot meal at school, we know more Minnesotans are facing hunger, especially for the most vulnerable in our community. Food and Diaper Drive in Rosemount, Eagan, and Apple ValleyLocally, I’m hosting a food and diaper drive on Saturday, November 1 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at three locations in our district. Here are the locations: - Rosemount City Hall (2875 145th St. W. Rosemount, MN)
- Lebanon Hills Jensen Lake Trailhead (1398 Carriage Hills Dr., Eagan, MN)
- Moeller Park (13750 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, MN)
 Additionally, if you or someone you know needs help with food this fall, Hunger Solutions has a list of statewide food shelves and additional resources here. If you’re able to, please consider making a contribution to a local food shelf. They’re already struggling to meet the demand, and the longer the uncertainty around SNAP continues, the more pressure they will face. I hope to see you soon. Please keep the emails and phone calls coming. It’s important to hear from you and what you’re experiencing during this Trump government shutdown and how I can help. Sincerely, John |