Coon Rapids at the Capitol: Legislative Update from Rep. Kari Rehrauer

Coon Rapids at the Capitol: Legislative Update from Rep. Kari Rehrauer

On Monday, at the last minute, Minnesota House Republicans abandoned their plan to put a bill to delay Paid Family and Medical Leave on the Floor. Republicans know they don’t have the votes to pass it, and I attribute your calls and emails to the House opposing this bill as a motivator for this 11th hour change. This is a great example of how Minnesotans engaging with government works.

PFML guarantees Paid Leave benefits for Minnesotans who are bonding with a newborn baby, caring for an aging parent, or recovering from an unexpected illness or injury. This program is supported by Minnesotans from both sides of the aisle by a 3-1 margin. I know that this program will be life-changing for so many Minnesotans, especially those in Coon Rapids and Andover, and be a major economic boost for all of Minnesota.

Make no mistake: this issue is not dead. We fully expect Republicans to renew their efforts to delay or repeal PFML, but with last night’s special election in Roseville taking us back to a 67-67 tie, they’ll have a much harder time bringing bad-faith bills like these to the Floor.

Last week, Minnesota Management and Budget released its February budget forecast, which shows the budget outlook moving in the wrong direction compared to November’s forecast. The chaos coming out of Washington is impacting this forecast, with inflation expected to climb and tax receipts expected to fall. Tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and corporations and cuts to Medicaid are expected to bring additional negative impacts.

I know that the forecast is making our community extremely nervous what the future holds under Trump’s economy. Trump’s regressive economic policies have undermined consumer confidence and forced even more families to live paycheck to paycheck with less breathing room every month.

I hope the forecast makes House Republicans realize it’s time to stop wasting time playing political theatre on the House Floor with bills that won’t pass and start working with Democrats to craft a budget that benefits all of Minnesota.

Another example of this hyper-partisan agenda was on display last week, when we blocked Republicans from their attempt to loosen gun safety laws, putting our kids and families in even more unnecessary danger. I proudly voted no. I refuse to put guns above my children’s safety. Thank you to everyone who has reached out echoing similar sentiments.

This Week in Saint Paul

Last week, I had two bills I authored heard in committee!

HF 1662 amends state statute so that Veterans program staff can access the MAXIS database, which is a computer system managed by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and used to determine eligibility for public assistance and services. When a Veteran comes in contact with MDVA in connection with the Veterans Stable Housing Initiative and other programs under the agency, this may be the only touchpoint MDVA has with this Veteran. By allowing these agency staff members Read-Only access to MAXIS, they are able to quickly and efficiently connect them with other services that they qualify for.

HF 1171 supports the Math Corps program, an AmeriCorps-powered tutoring program that provides K-8 students with up to 90 minutes of weekly tutoring in small groups. Math Corps tutors get extensive training and it is done in partnership with the schools. The tutoring program helps students acquire the foundational math skills needed to be successful. Foundational mathematics learning is as important as literacy but it does not get as much attention in the media. We know this is an impactful program through multiple randomized controlled trials. In addition, it is listed as an effective program by many external validators including Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University.

I also introduced House File 1929, which would invest in repairs and maintenance for the Coon Rapids Dam.

Thank you to the organizers and all the attendees of the Stand Up for Science Rally! We call on the federal government to restore funding for scientific research and to reinstate all wrongfully terminated scientists at federal agencies who work to keep us safe and help us to live longer, healthier lives.

Join me for a Town Hall

Join Rep. Matt Norris and I for a legislative town hall on April 1st at the Mary Ann Young Center in Blaine. We’ll be discussing the legislative session so far and the impacts it has had on our community.

You can RSVP and submit topics for discussion or questions here. This is a non-partisan event and all are welcome!

Adopt me!

To help combat the chaos in the news and from the White House, I want to take a moment for positivity each week. The Coon Rapids Humane Society is right here in our district and does great work to ensure animals in need find loving homes, provide affordable care for pets in our community, and initiate animal education.

Meet Xena!

Xena is a three-year-old terrier/pit bull mix looking for her forever home. Xena loves to be busy and would thrive in an active household that can provide lots of physical and mental stimulation. Please, no cats for her! Stop into the Coon Rapids Humane Society to meet Xena and make her a part of your family.

p.s. - Chewie from my last newsletter is still looking for his forever home! Stop in to meet him.

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 by email at rep.kari.rehrauer@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-1729. You can contact my Legislative Assistant, Chloe, at 651-296-5486 or via email at chloe.keller@house.mn.gov.

It is an honor and a privilege to represent you at the Capitol.?

All my best,

Rep. Kari Rehrauer

SOURCE: MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE