Press Release

Attorney General Ellison: Legislature takes steps toward helping people afford their lives and live with dignity and respect — with more to be done

Session ends with new tools AG Ellison fought for to fight wage theft and opioid crisis, protect public’s money held in HMOs’ charitable assets, regulate PBMs, protect against elder abuse — and with first increase to AGO budget in 6 years

Among urgent needs left unaddressed is life-or-death crisis of drug affordability, including insulin

May 25, 2019 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released the following statement on the end of the 2019 legislative session:

“The Legislature has taken good steps toward helping people afford their lives and live with dignity and respect. My office worked hard with the Governor and legislators of both parties to win new tools to fight wage theft and the opioid crisis, protect the public’s money held in HMOs’ charitable assets, regulate pharmacy benefit managers, and protect against elder abuse. Low-income folks supporting their families with the help of MFIP will also get their first raise in 33 years. All these changes will make a real, positive difference in the daily lives and wallets of Minnesotans.

“I’m also proud that the Attorney General’s office will see the first increase in our budget in actual dollars in six years. While that isn’t all the resources we asked for or need to protect Minnesotans, it’s an important step forward. I’m grateful to Governor Walz, Commissioner Frans, and the House for supporting our full request.

“At the same time, urgent, common-sense needs have been left unaddressed. Chief among them is the life-or-death crisis of pharmaceutical-drug affordability, including insulin. I’m disappointed the Senate couldn’t find its way toward addressing it more fully, despite the hard work of activists and the good will of several Republican senators. Minnesotans would also have done better had the Senate agreed to drivers’ licenses for all, a ban on conversion therapy, post-conviction relief, probation reform, and post-release felon-voting reforms, among others. Minnesotans also need the Legislature to do more in the future to make sure that the public’s money held in HMOs’ charitable assets stays in Minnesota and works solely for the benefit of Minnesotans’ health.

“I thank Governor Walz and every legislator of both parties, including many Republicans, who engaged with and listened to my office and me about our priorities. Although we didn’t always agree and didn’t get everything we wanted and needed, Minnesotans are better able to afford their lives and live with dignity and respect today than they were at the start of the session.”