FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Minnetonka, MN — State Representative Laurie Pryor announces her re-election campaign for Minnesota State House District 48A, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. She is endorsed by the DFL party.
“It has been an honor to serve our community in St. Paul these past four years,” Pryor said. “I have a proven record of working across the aisle to pass legislation that advances the greater good. Minnesota faces unprecedented challenges, and I am seeking another term so that I can continue to provide thoughtful, common-sense leadership to protect our communities and our economy.”
During Rep. Pryor’s second term in the State House, she worked to pass essential legislation addressing the health and safety of Minnesotans. She helped to pass the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, which tackles the insulin affordability crisis, and the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act to bring down the cost of prescription drugs.
“In this past term, we passed important legislation to keep our elections safe and secure.” Pryor added. “But we need to do more. As Minnesotans look to cast their ballots this fall, we must ensure everyone is able to safely exercise their right to vote. That means making improvements to our polling places, but it also means enabling vulnerable Minnesotans to vote by mail.”
Rep. Pryor recognizes that the best way to protect the health and safety of Minnesotans is to seek out expert guidance and make evidence-based decisions. She has been involved in Covid-19-related briefings and has worked closely with legislative leadership to develop plans and responses to the pandemic.
“This virus is not going away on its own,” she explained. “We need to take a steady, science-driven approach as we attempt to protect the lives of Minnesotans while reopening our economy. This isn’t a time for partisan politics. It’s a time for level-headed, serious leadership.”
Of course, the business of government does not stop during a pandemic. If anything, the Covid-19 crisis has made social and economic problems more pressing. In this past term, Rep. Pryor successfully worked to provide additional help to our farmers, ban the toxic chemical TCE, and raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21. She plans to continue to advance her legislative goals if elected to a third term.
“Our healthcare system was in need of serious reform before the pandemic,” she noted. Rep. Pryor has promised to work with her colleagues in the legislature to make sure that all Minnesotans have access to a full continuum of high-quality care, from mental health to preventative care. “This crisis been a massive stress test for our system,” Pryor explained. “We need to take this opportunity to really figure out what works and how we can evolve to meet the needs of the future.”
Rep. Pryor is also focused on the economy, both to guarantee a quick recovery and long-term sustainable growth. “Obviously, the first priority is getting back on our feet and helping Minnesotans safely return to work,” she said. “But as we think about growing our economy again, we need to think about investing in a 21st-century economy.” That includes, Rep. Pryor explained, investing in green-energy jobs and planning for more extreme-weather events and other challenges caused by climate change. “One of the lessons we’re learning is the importance of planning and prevention. We can’t afford to go from one disaster to another. We need to focus on growing a sustainable, robust economy that can stand up to new challenges.”
Part of planning for the future means continuing to invest in education, according to Rep. Pryor. “When it comes to education, Minnesota leads. We must continue to invest in our public schools, both to close the achievement gap and to help grow the next generation of leaders.” And as vice-chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Division and member of two other education-related committees, Rep. Pryor also knows that we must make higher education more affordable for young adults. The pipeline of essential workers like teachers and nurses are in danger because debt loads are too high.
Finally, Rep. Pryor cautioned that “we can’t let this crisis prevent us pursuing other, long-delayed reforms. We need to continue to think holistically about health and safety, and that includes gun safety.” Rep. Pryor recognizes that Minnesotans can support 2nd Amendment rights while also enacting common-sense gun-safety legislation. “We’ve waited far too long for reform and, if re-elected, I’ll make sure that these issues are on the legislature’s agenda.”
Representative Laurie Pryor will continue to tackle these issues at the state capitol and address the concerns of her constituents. She is committed to the well-being of our communities, economic opportunity, and strong schools.
About Laurie Pryor: First elected to the State House in 2016, she has adopted safe communities, economic development, and dynamic schools as the pillars of her service. Rep. Pryor currently serves on a number of committees including the Higher Education Finance and Police Division (Vice Chair), Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division, and Education Finance Division. She lives in Minnetonka with her husband, Jon. Her three children, their spouses, and her seven grandchildren all live in Minnesota.