“I’m not one of those ‘political’ people, but I would like to know how to get my voice heard.  I don’t even know where to start.”

If you have ever been intrigued, interested or even outraged over an issue that affects you or a loved one, then you may have said those very words or something very similar.  Getting involved politically, especially at the State level is much easier than you think, and your voice can be very powerful, if you choose to use it.  It is relatively simple to contact your representatives and make your opinion known.  You have the opportunity to have an effect directly on legislation that could become state law.  You can do as little as make calls and send emails or as much as testify in a committee hearing.  You can take it as far as you want.   “Sounds great”, you say, “but how?”  Start by identifying which Representatives serve you.  Use the link below to find your elected officials.  Contact them.  Let them know that you have an opinion.  They want to hear from their constituents and value your input.  You may be able to provide them with experiences, anecdotes and expertise.

Who represents me?

Visit the URL below, enter your address and see all of your representatives listed, along with a link to their own page with contact information, bio and committee assignments.

http://www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/

Once you know who to contact, you can start to look at the legislation that is being proposed and identify which items are important to you.  Listed below are links to a full listing of all committees for the House and Senate.  Proposed legislation is referred to committee where it is discussed, debated, amended and potentially passed out of committee to be voted upon by the entire House or Senate.  In committee is where the majority of the work gets done on legislation.  There are hearings held regarding proposed legislation and you can testify at these hearings and allow your opinions to be heard by the legislators as they consider each piece of legislation.

MN Legislature Home Page:
https://www.leg.state.mn.us/

House of Representatives Committees:

Full listing
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/commemlist.asp

Senate Committees: Full Listing
http://www.senate.mn/committees/

Specific committees in each body:

Below are links to specific committees that generally address issues important to seniors and those that serve them.  In each committee’s page, there are details about the members of the committee, the bills they are considering and meeting and hearing schedules.  The pages are full of clickable links that will provide you with a wide variety of information to help you make your voice heard in the Minnesota Legislature.  You can read proposed legislation, see when hearings and committee meetings are held, sign up to get email updates on progress of committee business and much more:

House of Representatives Committees:

House Health and Human Services Finance Committee
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90012

House Health and Human Services Finance Committee
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90013

House Subcommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/Home/?comm=90014

Senate Committees:

Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee
http://www.senate.mn/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=3095&ls=

Senate Aging and Long-term Care Policy Committee
http://www.senate.mn/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=3087&ls=