Minnesota lawmakers took a big step Monday toward proving politically divided government can get things done.
With three bipartisan votes, House lawmakers advanced bills that would require drivers to use cellphones in hands-free mode, charge new fees on opioid makers and distributors to fight prescription misuse and forgive school days missed because of the “polar vortex” in January.
Minnesota has the nation’s only divided Legislature with Democrats controlling the House and Republicans leading the Senate. When the legislative session began, leaders were quick to say they wanted to find common ground.
Halfway through their session such agreements have been rare, until Monday’s six-plus-hour House floor session. All three of the bills passed have a strong chance of eventually making it to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s desk for his signature.
OPIOID CRISIS
After years of trying, House lawmakers backed with a 94-34 vote an opioid stewardship bill that will impose $20 million worth of new fees on drug makers and distributors. A new advisory council will decide how to use that money to battle opioid addiction.
The powerful painkillers continue to kill Minnesotans in record numbers. The state Department of Health reported Monday that 422 people died from opioid overdoses in 2017, a 12 percent increase over 2016.
“The cost of responding to this crisis is huge,” said Rep. Liz Olsen, DFL-Duluth, who is the chief sponsor of the bill. “As Minnesotans, we have all paid for this crisis.”
For some lawmakers it’s personal.
State Rep. Dave Baker, R-Wilmar, lost his son Dan to an opioid addiction. Holding drug manufacturers accountable for their role in the opioid crisis was a key reason why Baker ran for office.
“He didn’t know what he was getting into,” Baker said. “My beautiful son Dan didn’t want to be an addict.”
Other lawmakers questioned the impact the new fees will have on the cost of opioid painkillers for patients who depend on them to treat intractable pain. Their efforts to amend the bill to fund the advisory council another way or to sunset the fees failed.
“This will literally increase the cost of health care for every Minnesotan,” said Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, the House minority leader. “That doesn’t mean the things paid for in this bill aren’t worthy.”
HANDS-FREE CELLPHONES
Just a year ago, further restrictions on how a driver can use a cellphone seemed like a long shot at the Legislature. But when they returned to the Capitol in January lawmakers had a simple message for backers of requiring only hands-free use behind the wheel — your activism worked.
State Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, thanked those who lost family members and friends for sharing their heartbreaking stories with lawmakers. Many were gathered in the House gallery for Monday’s vote.
Hornstein said the point of the hands-free bill was also clear: “Hang up and drive. Your life and the life of your fellow travelers depend on it,” he said.
Texting while driving is already illegal under state law. The change approved with a 106-21 vote Monday would essentially ban handling a phone while behind the wheel.
To legally make a call, drivers would have to use a “one-touch” device such as those commonly integrated into newer model cars.
If they don’t and they get caught they will face a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $50.
Advocates and lawmakers say the change should stop some of the more than 50 people killed in Minnesota annually because of distracted driving.
Critics said they were disappointed the bill didn’t have increased penalties for repeat offenders or for those who cause fatalities.
State Rep. Eric Lucero, R-Dayton, said the bill penalizes people with older vehicles that do not have new technology to make hands-free calls.
COLD DAYS
Lawmakers finished their night of bipartisanship with something most Minnesotans love to debate — the weather.
Under a proposal approved with a 105-21 vote, public schools can skip making up days they missed this year because of frigid temperatures.
State law requires students attend a set number of hours each year. If a district fails to provide enough instruction, schools can lose money and administrators could even be jailed.
However, state officials couldn’t recall a time when a district was penalized for shorting students on time.
This winter, some districts missed as much as 10 days of classes because of the weather, including three in late January because of the cold. Gov. Tim Walz said last month that he didn’t want to penalize schools for keeping students safe.
State Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, said waiving required instruction time hurt students and taxpayers. “We are shortchanging our kids with this bill,” he said.
A similar bill that would forgive all school days missed for inclement weather has already passed the Senate. The differences between the two proposals will have to be resolved by a joint committee of lawmakers.