Tag: HD33B

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: February 5, 2021


Dear Neighbors,

As of today, 497,843 Minnesotans have received their first dose of the vaccine, and 138,212 have completed the vaccine series.

VACCINE ALLOCATION UPDATE

Many in our community have expressed their frustration with not being able to get a COVID-19 vaccine. I share your frustration, and appreciate your patience and understanding while our public health experts work as quickly as possible to get the vaccine out to those most at-risk. The current weekly allocation Minnesota is getting from the federal government is 68,000 doses. Unless we receive more weekly allotments, it’s estimated to take four months to finish the first priority group. 

Continue reading “Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: February 5, 2021”

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: January 25, 2021


Dear Neighbors,

I hope you had a safe weekend and an opportunity to enjoy the snow. It’s been wonderful to have plowed access to portions of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail and Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail this year, thanks to a new partnership between Three Rivers Parks District and some West Metro cities. You can find complete winter trail maintenance information listed by city or by trail. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has excellent information to help you plan your next state trail, park, or camping trip.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting- You’re Invited!

On this Saturday at 10:00 a.m., I’ll be hosting a virtual town hall to give a legislative update and receive input and questions.

We’ll gather online using Zoom, and you can RSVP to my legislative assistant Shenika, at Shenika.chambers@house.mn, to receive the information to join. Submitting questions in advance by responding to this email is encouraged.

Continue reading “Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: January 25, 2021”

Bipartisan Coalition of State Legislators Introduce Pledge to Curb the Spread of COVID-19

House DFL logo

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, a bipartisan group of legislators from the Minnesota House of Representatives announced the Minnesota Pledge to Defeat COVID-19, a social media push to emphasize that the basic steps we can take to help curb the spread of COVID-19 have no partisan affiliation. Ahead of the holiday season, and with Minnesota experiencing a surge in cases, these legislators are asking all Minnesotans to share this message and commit to taking the necessary precautions. 

“We’re entering a critical moment in the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota, and how we choose to respond will have a direct impact on our family, friends, and neighbors,” said Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL – Deephaven), who is also a practicing physician. “The situation is dire, and our public health professionals and healthcare workers are begging us to follow the basic guidelines of COVID prevention because they’ve seen first-hand the consequences of this virus as cases surge. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to sign the Minnesota Pledge to Defeat COVID-19.  We all have a role to play in slowing the spread.”

Using the hashtag #TakeThePledgeMN, the pledge asks Minnesotans to double down on their efforts to wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, stay home if sick or exposed to COVID-19, limit the size of gatherings, and to be kind to one another. 

Continue reading “Bipartisan Coalition of State Legislators Introduce Pledge to Curb the Spread of COVID-19”

Bipartisan ‘Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act’ Advances in the House

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (SF 1098), a bill to address skyrocketing prescription drug pricing, advanced out of the House Ways and Means Committee today on a 23-1 vote. Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven), a practicing physician, is the chief author of the bipartisan legislation.

“All Minnesotans deserve access to the prescription medication that they need to survive and thrive,” said Rep. Morrison. “Prescription drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. Creating more transparency about why drugs are priced the way they are is an important first step in raising awareness about the role of drug prices in the cost of health care, and in helping drive down those prices.” Continue reading “Bipartisan ‘Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act’ Advances in the House”

Counterpoint: Legislators should make insulin policy, not give medical advice

People who live with diabetes should consult carefully with their physician, and we should find a way to make it affordable.

The Minnesota Legislature is having a serious debate about how to bring down the soaring cost of prescription drugs. Lifesaving drugs have become inaccessible to many because of their high cost. Insulin is a particularly egregious example, tragically brought into focus by the death of Alec Smith, a young man who died because he had to ration the insulin he could no longer afford. We are working to find a way to prevent another unnecessary tragedy by ensuring that people who live with diabetes have access to the insulin they need to survive.

As legislators, we should not dispense medical advice. Rep. Jeremy Munson, R-Lake Crystal, inserted himself (“Over-the-counter insulin is a viable option,” Oct. 4) into the patient-physician relationship by recommending that insulin-dependent diabetics use a $25 insulin option from Walmart.

As the only physicians in the Minnesota House, we feel compelled to respond.

View the complete October 8 commentary by Reps. Alice Mann and Kelly Morrison here.

Q&A with Rep. Kelly Morrison: Legislative debrief

Lakeshore Weekly logoDEEPHAVEN — State Rep. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, is serving her first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 33B

Lakeshore Weekly News contacted Morrison to ask her a few questions about the legislative session, which ended May 25 after a special session.

How was it serving in a divided legislature?

Serving in a divided legislature was a challenge, but it is not an uncommon scenario in Minnesota. It has become more unusual around the country, but we seem to seek it out here. We live in a purple district where Democrats and Republicans live next door to each other, so we are used to interacting with people who might not agree with us and learning from each other. I worked hard to reach across the aisle and am proud to have authored many bipartisan bills. At the end of the session, both sides made compromises so that we could craft a budget that works for Minnesota. When each side comes away with both a couple of wins as well as some disappointments, it probably means that we did something right!

View the complete June 20 article by Frances Stevenson on The Lakeshore Weekly website here.

Physician lawmakers Sen. Scott Jensen and Rep. Kelly Morrison talk health care

Having physicians crafting health care legislation is unusual and closely watched.

Four physicians served in this session of the Minnesota Legislature, including two area legislators. Sen. Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) represents Senate District 47 and is a family doctor. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Deephaven) represents House District 33B and is an obstetrician.

The other physician legislators are Sen. Matt Kline, a Democrat representing Senate District 52, and House District 56B Democratic Rep. Alice Mann.

View the complete June 19 article by Lara Bockenstedt on The Chaska Herald website here.

Rep. Morrison to host listening session Tuesday, April 16, in Shorewood

Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven) will host a listening session next week.

What:  Listening Session with Rep. Kelly Morrison
Where:  Shorewood Community and Event Center, 5735 Country Club Rd
When:  April 16, 6:30 to 7:30 PM

Rep. Morrison represents Minnesota House District 33B, which includes Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Minnetonka Beach, Mound, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay and portions of Chanhassen and Orono.

All constituents are invited to attend with comments, concerns and questions and hear updates from the State Capitol.

Tuesday at 11: News conference announcing new comprehensive plan to make prescription drugs affordable and accessible for Minnesotans

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday, March 26 at 11 a.m. in Capitol Room B971, DFL lawmakers and the parents of Alec Smith are announcing a new comprehensive plan to make prescription drugs affordable and accessible for all Minnesotans. Alec died in 2017 at age 26 because he could not afford to pay the $1,300 cost of his insulin prescription.

This is an opportunity for reporters to learn about DFL lawmakers’ new plan (scope extends beyond insulin), listen to Minnesotans talk about the plan’s impact on their lives, and ask questions.

Who:

  • Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt, Jr. (parents of Alec Smith)
  • Majority Leader Ryan Winkler
  • Rep. Michael Howard
  • Rep. Laurie Halverson
  • Rep. John Lesch
  • Rep. Kelly Morrison (physician)
  • Rep. Alice Mann (physician)
  • Rep. Hunter Cantrell
  • Rep. Kristin Bahner

When:  Tuesday, March 26 at 11 a.m.

Where:  Capitol Room B971

Legislators and advocates rally to support “great start” bills

SAINT PAUL, Minn.—Today at the Capitol, a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators, joined by advocates for health care, mental health, and early childhood, announced support for prenatal care and home visiting proposals, initiatives that would improve the wellbeing of parents and children at the beginning of life. The announcement immediately followed a legislative hearing on the home visiting proposal.

“Prenatal care and home visiting services are part of a broader legislative effort to help make sure that every child gets a great start in life,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL—St. Paul), chair of the House Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division. “The House, Senate, and Governor are all prioritizing early care and learning. This is the session to do right by the youngest Minnesotans.”

While Minnesota leads the nation in many aspects of health care, too many African-American and American Indian women die from pregnancy-related causes. Black and Native women are three to four times more likely to die during pregnancy compared to their white counterparts, and their infants are more than twice as likely to die as white infants. Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL—Deephaven) and Sen. Jim Abeler (R—Anoka) have introduced companion bills, HF 909and SF 855, to expand access and utilization of prenatal care and decrease racial and ethnic disparities. Continue reading “Legislators and advocates rally to support “great start” bills”