Neighbors, Yesterday, we passed Paid Family and Medical Leave legislation. Thousands of Minnesotans do not have access to any paid time off, which sets up a difficult choice between having to go to their jobs or caring for an ill loved one. People get sick, things happen, and we need to make sure everyone has the time to care for themselves and their loved ones during trying times. At the same time, no one should face bankruptcy for their choice. Passing Paid Family & Medical Leave is the right thing to do, and I was proud to cast a ‘yes’ vote. Less than 20% of United States workers have access to paid family and medical leave through their employers. The rest, predominantly lower-wage workers, face some impossible decisions. Under the federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), workers in the U.S. can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave following the birth of a child or if the worker or a family member has a serious illness or suffers an injury. Most workers, however, cannot afford to take unpaid leave and the FMLA offers little relief. The United States is the only high wealth country in the world not allowing workers to take paid family leave. Further, a compelling majority of Americans support paid family leave. In one recent, national poll, 84% expressed support for a national paid family leave program. The paid family leave program would be administered by the Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in conjunction with its Unemployment Insurance (UI) program.  Remaining Budget Bills PassLast week, the House passed our final budget bills. The Health, Judiciary and Public Safety, Commerce and Taxes bills complete our budget proposal. Several budget bills have also been passed by the Senate and are now being considered in conference committees. Once compromises are reached, the budget bills will be reapproved by each body, then sent to Gov. Walz for his signature into law. I appreciate your input during this budget process and look forward to completing our budget to help all Minnesotans succeed and thrive. I’m especially proud of our Taxes budget, which delivers the largest tax cut in Minnesota History. The bill includes credits, rebates, and other provisions designed to maximize benefits for workers, families, and seniors. It also addresses years of rising property taxes and underinvestment in local communities. These critically needed provisions are paid for through the state’s historic surplus and new revenue from multinational corporations and the very wealthiest in the state. Video of all committee, floor and conference committee debates will be available on the House Information YouTube page. The Capitol and the CommunityIt was another busy week at the Capitol and in the community. I attended a Family Promise event in Rochester to help low-income families experiencing homelessness.  I attended a Time to Care event with community leaders to discuss and reiterate the importance of investing in people.  The Rochester legislative delegation celebrates the Senate passage of HF 3, the Democracy for the People Act.  IMPORTANT: Medicaid Information Needed Next ThursdayDuring the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, annual renewals for our public health programs – MinnesotaCare and Medicaid – paused. On May 11, the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency is ending and those on MinnesotaCare or Medicaid will need to update their information to determine their ongoing eligibility. If someone is no longer eligible for coverage under Medicaid, they should be able to get low-cost health insurance through the federal and state insurance marketplaces. You can watch a short video here for more information.  Stay Connected with the LegislatureIt is easy to stay connected to news from the State Capitol. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Kim Hicks State Representative |