Page 2

2323 MN Senate
Building Capitol Update—February 15, 2018
95 University Ave W
St. Paul, MN 55155

• I serve on the following February 15, 2017 SD 50 —Bloomington, Richfield

committees: Health and
Human Services Policy &
Finance, E-12 Education
Finance, and Local Govern-
ment.
• I’ve served on several task
forces and committees that
have met since the end of
the 2017 legislative session.
• I’m also looking forward to
meeting with Bloomington
and Richfield residents
about issues that are being
discussed this year.
• My Senate website is
www.senate.mn/
senatorwiklund
How to contact me
at the Capitol:
Phone:
651-297-8061
E-mail:
sen.melissa.wiklund
@senate.mn
2018 Session Begins February 20th
In the second year of the
biennium, the legislature sets
the date of the beginning of the
session. This year, the legisla-
tive session begins Tuesday,
February 20th. Since there is
no budget to pass, the work
that the legislature does will
typically be more policy-
focused.
There are a number of dy-
namics shaping this session, but I
remain focused on serving our
neighbors and our communities.
Of note, currently the Senate is
operating without its own budg-
et. Following Governor Day-
ton’s line-item veto of legislative
funding, the Legislative Coordi-
nating Commission voted to
transfer funds for its own oper-
ation to the Senate. It remains
to be seen if a Senate budget
will be passed this year, alt-
hough Gov. Dayton has signaled
openness to it.
As I’m sure you know, Gov,
Dayton appointed then-Lt. Gov.
Tina Smith to the U.S. Senate in
January. The Minnesota Consti-
tution states that the last elect-
ed President of the Senate, in
this case Senator Michelle Fisch-
bach of Paynesville, then became
Lt. Governor. Lt. Gov. Fisch-
bach believes that she can serve
as both Lt. Governor and State
Senator. A lawsuit brought by a
resident of the district repre-
sented by Lt. Gov. Fischbach is
currently in progress. Given the
current 34-33 makeup of the Sen. Wiklund speaks with Sen. Steve
Senate, the status of Lt. Gov. Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie)
Fischbach’s role is important to
how work will be conducted page), I have served on the Child
this session. Support Task Force, the MN
Early Learning Council, and the
Since the end of the 2017 Strengthening Public Health
session, I’ve continued to work Working Group. Several com-
on issues important to Minneso- mittees that I serve on have also
tans. In addition to the Select had informational meetings. I
look forward to putting this
Committee on Health Care
Consumer Access and Afforda- work to use in the coming legis-
bility (detailed on the next lative session.

Representative
Linda Slocum
(50A)
651-296-7158 November Budget Forecast
rep.linda.slocum On November 5th, 2017, Children’s Health Insurance
@house.mn Minnesota History:
Minnesota Management and Program (CHIP), which passed
Budget (MMB) released its latest in January. On February 18th,
Representative
Andrew Carlson
forecast, showing a projected
Those developments and 1953, Gov. C. Elmer
budget deficit of $188 million.
(50B) This deficit is largely the result others will be factored into Anderson signs a bill
MMB’s February forecast, which
651-296-4218 of tax and spending bills passed
will form the basis for budget
establishing the red
rep.andrew.carlson last session. This information
pine (also known as
does not account for the federal and tax discussions this year.
@house.mn
tax bill that passed late last year, Minnesota budgets on a biennial the Norway pine) as
or for the reauthorization of the basis, so budget bills passed last
year are still in effect. Minnesota’s state tree.
Page 2 Capitol Update —February 15, 2018

Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability

Over the past few months, I’ve been fortu-
nate to serve on the Senate Select Committee
on Health Care Consumer Access and Afforda-
bility. This committee, chaired by Senator Scott
Jensen of Chaska, has focused on discussing and
addressing the unique aspects of our health care
system that affect costs and Minnesotans’ access
to care. We learned about many issues influenc-
ing access and affordability. I am especially inter-
ested in exploring policy solutions that address
concerns with consumer access to care due to
network adequacy issues and with consumer
affordability by looking for ways to increase price
transparency.
Health care spending continues to be a major
driver of the economy. While Minnesota has a
history of being forward-thinking on these issues,
too many Minnesotans are still without adequate
affordable coverage. This committee has met
several times since last July, and we’ve heard
from experts in the health care industry, provid-
ers, businesses, academics, and officials from the
Minnesota Departments of Health and Human
Services.
This committee has discussed issues including
the health care marketplace itself, Medical Assis-
tance and MinnesotaCare, health care innova-
tions, pharmaceutical costs and research, local
public health efforts, the Affordable Care Act
and MnSure, and consumer experiences. I serve
on the Health & Human Services Finance and
Policy Committee, and I will continue to work
with my colleagues on how we can make changes
to better serve Minnesotans.

Corridors of Commerce Funding for 494-35W Interchange

Residents of Richfield and Bloomington are
well aware of the traffic problems associated
with the 494-35W interchange. The Federal
Highway Administration has actually designated it
the 17th worst bottleneck in the country. I have
worked for the past few years to secure funding
for this renovation through transportation fund-
ing and bonding bills.
The City of Bloomington has applied for fund-
ing through the MNDoT-funded Corridors of
Commerce program, which focuses on major
transportation arteries that are crucial to busi-
ness operations in Minnesota.
On February 5th, I sent a letter to Transpor-
tation Dept. Commissioner Charles Zelle in
support of this application. I’m pleased that this
letter earned bipartisan support from nearby
legislators: Sens. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden
Prairie), Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina), Patricia
Torres Ray (DFL-Minneapolis), and Paul Ander-
son (R-Plymouth), and Reps. Paul Rosenthal (DFL
-Edina), Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield), Andrew
Carlson (DFL-Bloomington), Jon Applebaum
(DFL-Minnetonka), Laurie Pryor (DFL-
Minnetonka), Jennifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie),
Dario Anselmo (R-Edina), and Jean Wagenius
(DFL-Minneapolis).

Looking Ahead...
Once the legislative session begins, things will move
fairly quickly. Even though the session starts later than
last year’s, we are still required to adjourn by May
21st. I look forward to meeting with constituents rep-
resenting the MN Catholic Conference, the MN Or-
ganization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and students
from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, as well as
members of the Bloomington Federation of Teachers.
If you have time, I hope you’ll stop by the Capitol and
Senator Wiklund greets a group of 6th graders
say “Hi!” otherwise, I’ll see you around town! from Valley View Middle School in
Bloomington as they visit the Capitol