Hi everyone!
Kenza here from TakeAction Minnesota, in my new role as Director of Public Affairs & Communications.
I’m so excited to share our 2020 legislative priorities with you, especially the bold work we’re doing on prescription drug prices. (Hi Big Pharma! If you’re reading this, good. We’re done letting pharmaceutical corporations go unchecked while people are dying. Drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them and we WILL pass meaningful legislation this session.)
At TakeAction Minnesota, we know that we can create a Minnesota that works for all of us, no matter where we live, what we look like, or what’s in our wallets.
We believe in good, people-centered governance and support policies that promote justice and equity, and are grounded in core principles: in Minnesota, we care for each other and every person has inherent worth and dignity, no exception. When everyone pays their fair share in taxes, we have enough for everyone to thrive.
2020 Legislative Priorities
The legislative session runs from February 11 – May 18. Our 2020 legislative priorities includes policies that are bold and necessary:
1. Access to Medicine
Drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. Pharmaceutical corporations are killing people. Our state government is responsible for ensuring everyone can access the medicine they need. It’s time to establish a Prescription Drug Price Affordability Commission to ensure ALL medicine is affordable in Minnesota. Take action right now and share your prescription drug price story with us.
2. Protect Health Care
Republicans are working to repeal the Affordable Care Act through the Texas v. US lawsuit making its way to the Supreme Court. It’s wrong–and we can’t go backward. Minnesota must codify standards set by the Affordable Care Act in state law to protect care. This includes protecting for people with pre-existing conditions, ensuring young people under 26 can stay on their parents insurance, covering access to birth control and preventative care, and patient protections like out-of-pocket maximums.
3. Expand MinnesotaCare
Ensure every Minnesotan and small business has the opportunity to access MinnesotaCare.
4. Paid Time to Care
No one should have to choose between caring for yourself or a loved one and a paycheck. It’s time to pass Paid Family & Medical Leave and Earned Sick and Safe Time.
5. Universal Family Care
Minnesotans need tools to balance work and their highest family responsibilities. By updating our care infrastructure, we can ensure that no matter where we are in life, we can get the care we need for ourselves and our loved ones, better care jobs, and support for family caregivers. In 2020, we’re advancing universal family care: together, we can build 21st century social insurance models of care that serves everyone.
In addition to our top 2020 priorities, TakeAction Minnesota supports a range of issues that support democracy, equity, health, and justice including:
- People-centered health care reforms and pharmaceutical drug price bills
- Climate justice
- Voting rights
- Drivers Licenses for All
- Criminal justice reform
- Abortion care
- Policies that stop sexual harassment (Dignity at Work)
- Investments in education
- Gun violence prevention and more
We’re also following corporate-backed policies and right-wing efforts that undermine our democracy, health care, and justice. We oppose statewide preemption laws that undermine workers’ rights, environmental protections, and local democracy. Abortion is health care. Minnesotans firmly rejected photo ID laws in 2012: case-closed.
It’s going to be a fast, exciting legislative session.
Get ready to take action with us this legislative session. Sign up for email updates right now. Questions? Send me an email any time: kenza@takeactionminnesota.org or DM me on Twitter @kenzahadjmoussa.
