Hello Neighbors,
The week of March 9th has been a very busy week at the Capitol. Along with passing some very important legislation, I had the pleasure of being shadowed by constituent Matthew Scherber. Matthew is very interested in our political process and was able to experience his government in action this week. Please see photo below. I hope you have a very good weekend.
Insulin Reform Passes for all Minnesotans
After more than twelve months of discussion, analysis, and debate, the Senate passed a strong insulin safety net bill with a unanimous vote. This program is designed to be available for all who need it and includes fulfillment of both urgent and ongoing needs for patients.
Most importantly, this bill provides 30 days of emergency insulin to anyone regardless of income as long as they are Minnesota residents and in need of the medicine. All insulin in the Senate plan is provided by the insulin companies with affordable co-pays. A long-term component to the program helps patients afford their insulin with a 90-day supply for no more than a $25 co-pay.
All diabetics will be protected by this bill. We are prioritizing people, not the manufacturers, and have developed a bill that will work. All Minnesotans in need of this life-saving medication will have peace of mind knowing they have access to the care they need. This legislation prioritizes renewability, portability, and prompt implementation.
Violence Prevention Bills
The Senate Majority put the safety of Minnesotans at the top of the agenda with a violence prevention agenda focused on real solutions to the recent increase in violent crime in our state. The series of violence prevention bills will maximize the effectiveness of existing laws, encourage local governments to add more police on streets, trains and buses, and close loopholes to give prosecutors and judges better tools to take dangerous criminals off the street.
Those responsible for enforcing our laws have pointed to loopholes in current statute that limit their ability to effectively prosecute violent criminals for illegal possession of a firearm. They rely on well-crafted laws to keep our communities safe, so the bills presented focused on improving current law while firmly upholding the second amendment.
Extreme gun bills are not going to move forward this session. We are focused on addressing the underlying causes of gun violence perpetrated by violent criminals and repeat offenders.
Senate Acts Quickly to Pass Rural Finance Authority Funding
On Thursday, March 12th, the Minnesota Senate approved $50 million in bonding for the Rural Finance Authority (RFA). The RFA is Minnesota’s main agricultural lending arm and partners with community banks to provide farmers with lower interest rates. This bill requires priority be given first to beginning farmer loans, second to seller-sponsored loans, and third to agricultural improvement loans.
RFA is a vital financing tool for farmers, especially as the agriculture sector faces continued hardships. The funds are responsibly loaned, and the default rate is very low. Losses have been less than 1% since the program began in 1986. RFA is nearly depleted, so quick legislative action was needed.
Wright County Community Action
On March 4th, in the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance committee I presented legislation which provides supplemental funding to Wright County Community Action (WCCA). WCCA provides homeownership education, counseling, and training services, and until this year, has consistently received funding from Minnesota Housing and Finance (MHFA). In the past, MHFA utilized a scoring tool made available to every organization that receives funding, but despite the WCCA’s good rating, their support was cut by 41.4%.
These cuts indicate a potential inconsistency in funding. After further review, it was discovered that several agencies with scores identical or higher than previous years, had their funding cut. Many of those with lower scores were granted funding increases. This signifies that the criteria thought to be the determining factor for their funding is actually irrelevant.
The WCCA was given inadequate notice that their funding would be subject to such substantial cuts. My bill would guarantee they remain open and available to those seeking foreclosure and home buying education.
I am disappointed by the lack of consistency, clarity, communication and budget cuts from MHFA which necessitated this supplementary grant to keep WCCA running. WCCA and other agencies have proven themselves, followed the specified criteria, and were still penalized. We are reviewing MHFA’s process to correct this unfortunate cut in funding and hold them accountable to allocate sufficient funding in the future. Funding should correlate with the awarded scores, determined by a reliable and transparent rating system. If MHFA has altered their requirements, we will ensure they make their changes clear so agencies know what they will be graded on to receive the funding they need for future budgeting years.
Keep in Touch
Senator Bruce Anderson
3209 Minnesota Senate Building
95 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55155