NW Twin Cities

Rep. Marion O’Neill released a statement on her Facebook page addressing criticism she has faced due to her decision to vote no on HF 4537. 

The HF 4537 bill was to provide workers compensation for COVID-19 for specified employees, including first responders. 

“Let me start by saying in no way does my vote diminish the value I place on the heroic work being done by all of our front-line workers,” O’Neill wrote in her Facebook post. “Every day our doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and so many more are risking their lives to care for the sick and protect our communities, my daughter among them.”

In her post, O’Neill estimated that the project would cost $500 million or more. 

“If these projections become reality and we don't have a way to pay for it, it will put the workers' compensation fund at risk of bankruptcy for all workers — not just those on the front lines of the COVID crisis,” O'Neill wrote. “I also worry about obligating all employers, including businesses and local governments, with this action which could cause a significant increase in workers' compensation insurance premiums. The League of Minnesota Cities opposed the bill as written for the same reason.”

O’Neill also cited other economic aspects of the bill in her decision to vote against it. 

“Minnesota will be facing a major state budget deficit in the coming budget cycle. Our economy relies primarily on sales taxes and income taxes for most of its revenue; with so many people out of work not paying income tax, and so many sectors of our economy closed and not collecting sales taxes, it's likely our projected budget surplus is gone and with it our budget reserve and more," she said.

Despite O'Neill's objections, the bill has been passed, effective April 8.