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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope everyone's summer is off to a great start! As we are now out of session, I will only be sending periodic updates. I look forward to seeing everyone out in the community in the coming months!
Like you, I’m enjoying celebrating all of the high school graduations in our area! In this photo, I’m with Jacob Meissner, family friend and two-time State High School Wrestling AAA Champion, who wrestled for Osseo. He will continue his career at a D-1 school next fall.
Congratulations to ALL of the graduating Seniors in the Class of 2022!! You and your classmates have made it through two challenging years of school closures, distance learning and other disruptions of the pandemic and are ready to take on the challenges of adult life in college, the trades or other avenues. We are proud of you and are excited for all you will do!
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Executive Summary
- Frontline Worker Applications Open
- Rising Gas Prices
- Headlines and Helpful Links
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Frontline Worker Applications Open
Applications for Minnesota’s Frontline Worker Pay bonuses opened on Wednesday and applications can be submitted through July 22, 2022. The website has had some initial problems but, since the program is NOT a first-come, first-served process, all qualified applications received by July 22nd will receive the payments.
The amount of the payments will depend on the total number of qualified applicants, who will all receive an equal amount from the $500 million program.
Minnesota’s nurses, long term care workers, first responders, and other frontline workers risked their lives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to care for their communities. I encourage all frontline workers to check their eligibility and apply for these funds as a thank you for their service to our state during that unprecedented time.
Recently I have heard questions from our local volunteer on-call firefighters with questions regarding their eligibility. Yes, volunteer firefighters who receive pay are considered employees in an eligible sector. They still have to meet all other eligibility requirements.
Visit frontlinepay.mn.gov for information regarding eligibility and to apply. You can also check out the Frontline Worker Toolkit which has information and resources for both employers and prospective applicants.
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Rising Gas Prices
This week, gas prices hit a record high in our state of $4.70 per gallon. The national average is now $5/gallon! This is impacting all Minnesotans – families hoping to afford a summer vacation, seniors on fixed incomes and businesses impacted by the high cost of transporting goods. With record gas prices and inflation impacting everyone, many are being forced to reconsider their summer plans.
As recently as 2019, House Democrats and Gov. Walz were pushing for a 70% gas tax increase and automatic annual gas tax hikes in 2021. Higher gas prices and soaring inflation means it's time to put more money back in the hands of Minnesotans through permanent tax relief.
Next session we will return the state’s massive budget surplus through tax cuts to help all Minnesotans make ends meet.
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Headlines and Helpful Links
Minnesota Court of Appeals Election Integrity Hearing: A lawsuit filed against the Secretary of State to strike down a Rule issued by Secretary of State Steve Simon that potentially violates state election law by unduly restricting election judges in carrying out their statutory responsibilities for verifying signatures on absentee ballots will be heard tomorrow.
According to the petition, the rule in question prevents ballot board members from finding that a signature is not the voter’s in several circumstances, including:
“a. If the signature uses or lacks “full names, nicknames, abbreviations, or initials within either signature”;
- “[E]ven if a voter uses a signature mark on either or both documents”;
- “[I]f a voter has another individual or different individuals sign the voter’s name in their presence on either or both the application and the return envelope in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.44, subdivision 14.” Minn. R. 8210.2450, Subps. 2 & 3; 34 S.R. 1571.
The case is being argued before the Minnesota Court of Appeals Thursday, June 9 at 10:40 a.m. You can watch the hearing starting thirty minutes prior to its commencement by clicking the link above and scrolling down the page to see “Links for this week's ZoomGov remote oral arguments." Clicking on that link will open a PDF file which contains another link for the Live Stream.
Public Meeting for Proposed Mental Health Hospital: The Minnesota Department of Health will host a virtual public meeting on June 9, 2022 at 6 p.m. to solicit public input on the establishment of a new 144-licensed bed freestanding mental health hospital in Saint Paul. This is an important step in addressing the growing mental health treatment needs in our state and requires public input.
Visit the link above for more information on joining and learn how to submit public comment by email by June 27th.
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Photos
Maple Grove had a wonderful Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Memorial in Central Park! So thankful for the amazing efforts of the Osseo/Maple Grove American Legion Post 172 and the Maple Grove Yellow Ribbon Network for all you do to honor our nation’s and our communities’ heroes! 🇺🇸
I attended a Zoom Meeting this week with the Three Rivers Park District when they presented their plans to the MIssississippi River Parkway Commission on which I serve.
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Please Contact Me
Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.
The House is adjourned until January 3, 2023. The best way to reach me is by email: rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked a couple of times/week.
Have a great weekend!
Kristin
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225 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806 |
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