This article was originally posted on 12-22-2018

Legislative Update - December 21, 2018

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and best wishes for a Happy New Year. My latest update is attached.

Dear Neighbors,

This is a wonderful time of year to spend with family and friends. I am looking forward to seeing mine before the busy legislative session starts on January 8th. Although policymakers are not sworn in for a couple more weeks we are still hard at work. Here are a few items I wanted you to see before the Christmas break.

Lawmakers Listen to Diabetics and their Families Who Struggle With Rising Insulin Costs
Recently diabetics and their families came to the Capitol to share their stories of struggling to afford insulin. The price of insulin has tripled in the last decade, which is unconscionable for a drug that people need to survive. Alec Smith, a 26-year-old from Minnesota, died a month after his 26th birthday when he was no longer eligible to be on his parent’s health insurance. He died a month later when he could not afford a $1,300 insulin bill. At best the rising drug prices are the result of an unfortunate series of events; at worst is it drug profiteering. You can read more about the listening session I was at by clicking here. Prices in the United States are much higher than other countries. I am going to continue to fight the dangerously high prices.

Open positions on boards and commissions
Minnesota’s Secretary of State has announced open positions on over 200 boards, commissions, councils, work groups, and task forces. See the link below to check on ways you can serve on one of these advisory boards, https://www.sos.state.mn.us/boards-commissions/

Help available for aging or disabled friends/loved ones who are elderly or have disabilities
As we gather with loved ones for the holidays, the MN Dept. of Human Services reminds us that this can be a good time to ask family, friends, elderly, and people with disabilities about struggles with loneliness, daily tasks, and safety. DHS and the MN Board on Aging offer these helpful resources:

Senior LinkAge Line 1-800-333-2433 or http://www.seniorlinkageline.com/
Disability Hub MN 1-866-333-2466 or https://disabilityhubmn.org/


Online shopping safety this holiday season
Many of us shop online all year, but the holidays can be especially busy. As you shop for holiday gifts in the coming days, protect yourself from fraud or identity theft. The MN Dept. of Commerce offers some tips to make your holiday shopping safer.

I hope you enjoy the holiday season; please let me know if I can assist you. It is pleasure to represent our community.

Sincerely,

Sandy Masin
 

You can help!

Put a SIGN in your yard!