 Legislative Update -Dear Neighbors and Friends, The 2025 Legislative Session ended Monday, but our work is far from over. I’ve been spending long days at the Capitol working directly on final negotiations so we can make quick work of a special session and avoid risking a government shutdown. Our DFL caucus remains steadfast in our commitment to responsible governance that protects our most vulnerable citizens. While I understand difficult decisions need to be made, I feel strongly we do not need to balance the budget on the backs of students, seniors, Minnesotans with disabilities, or other vulnerable members of our community. Throughout this session, House DFLers have focused on policies that return power to everyday Minnesotans, not the ultra-wealthy and corporations. We're proud of the bipartisan achievements we've secured on several fronts, demonstrating that good governance transcends party lines when we focus on the needs of all Minnesotans. Unfortunately, some of our GOP colleagues continue to push divisive policies that would harm Minnesota families while padding the pockets of corporations and millionaires. Let me be clear: the DFL will not compromise on policies that hurt average Minnesotans while making the rich get richer.  As we prepare for the special session, we're seeing some significant differences of opinion emerge. Republicans are advocating for rolling back or eliminating several key programs: healthcare access for our undocumented neighbors, paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, and unemployment insurance for hourly school workers, among others. I don't support rolling back or eliminating any of these programs, and neither do the majority of my DFL colleagues. Providing Minnesotans with access to preventative healthcare is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency room care. All workers, regardless of their employer's size, deserve time off to care for themselves and their loved ones. Hourly school workers - who are predominantly women and people of color - deserve the same access to unemployment insurance as workers in male-dominated seasonal fields like construction. I'm sharing these details because I want you to understand exactly what's at stake in this special session. It's natural for legislators to become entrenched in their priorities at this stage, but I remain confident we'll reach a bipartisan solution in our remaining time together - one that doesn't require me to compromise on the values you elected me to uphold. I'll continue to keep you informed as we work through the final budget decisions in this special session.  Annual AFSA High School FFA Awards Banquet It's truly humbling to be recognized with the Honorary FFA (Future Farmers of America) Degree at the Annual AFSA High School FFA Awards Banquet. This award, which celebrates the collective efforts of FFA Alumni and Supporters in uplifting students, resonates deeply with me. I'm excited to join fellow advocates in celebrating the achievements of these bright young leaders and reaffirming our shared commitment to their success!  Ramsey County Mental Health Outreach Van Ramsey County is launching a brand-new mental health outreach van, and they need our help to give it a fantastic name! They're running a contest right now where you can submit your most inspiring name idea for a chance to snag a $100 gift card. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, May 25th, so get those creative juices flowing! The winning name will be revealed on Saturday, May 31st at the Wellness in the Park Mental Health Awareness Month Celebration. What a great way to be a part of something that will make a real difference in our community. You can find all the details and submit your ideas right here. Let's help Ramsey County give this vital resource a name that truly reflects hope and support!  Impacts of Federal Cuts on Medicaid in Minnesota As the federal government seeks to make massive cuts to Medicaid it’s important to look at how this would impact Minnesota and who it would primarily impact. As a legislature we would be forced to make really difficult budget decisions around what to cut and how to raise revenue to continue to meet the most pressing needs. These cuts would result in harmful loss of coverage for kids, people with disabilities, and our seniors. This means nursing homes going understaffed and undersupplied, kids not getting the care and medication they need, folks with disabilities without the support they need to live full lives. This would not be an efficient government, nor would it mean we are saving you money as a taxpayer. It would mean the government can’t afford to do its job or take care of its constituents; it would mean the costs of the negative outcomes of not giving people care would be felt elsewhere. That doesn’t sound like good governance to me; I’ll do all I can at the House to protect these crucial services.  Stay Connected!Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4342, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe! Sincerely, Brion Curran
State Representative |