"Because you Roe, Roe, Roe-ed your vote, Minnesota is making history," said Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, DFL-Eden Prairie, who sponsored the bill in the House. "Minnesota forever will be a north star as every one of our neighboring states continues to deny fundamental rights to their citizens."

“Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn had spent weeks working on her bill, but it wasn't until the eve of the first hearing — with discussions of security, television cameras and keeping the debate civil — that it fully dawned on her what she was taking on.”

"The program would build on existing child care subsidies, including the Child Care Assistance Program and Early Learning Scholarships, according to the lawmakers who plan on introducing the bill, state Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, DFL-Eden Prairie, and state Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown."

"Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-49B, Eden Prairie) said Friday that she and other authors are seeking a one-time $500 million allocation this session to fund one year of the proposed Great Start Affordability Scholarship program."

The "Great Start" affordability scholarships would be available to families who make below 150% of the state median income, or $188,000 per year for a family of four. The full scope of the plan is still being discussed, said bill author Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, a Democrat from Eden Prairie. But the aid would range from $25 to $600 per month, depending on how much money families make. 

“Not every positive pregnancy test is a celebration, and not every ultrasound appointment ends with good news — and I, as a politician, have no business making that decision for someone else,” said chief author of the bill Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, DFL-Eden Prairie.

The DFL lawmaker from Eden Prairie was part of a House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee hearing Wednesday afternoon focused on liquor sales laws, which was streamed live on YouTube. Partway through the hearing, Kotyza-Witthuhn began discussing a draft she'd authored regarding the direct-to-consumer wine shipping industry.

Then her 15-month-old got involved.

"Companies who don’t even have a footprint in Minnesota are now coming in and trying to get the best deal they can out of Minnesotans and off the backs of these hardworking folks," said Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL- Eden Prairie), who sponsored legislation that failed to gain traction this session.