Stevenson has a Wikipedia page and a campaign website,
https://www.zack.mn/
so bio background is given by link. He is DFL, not the dark side of the force. So what earns him today's gold star? Strib's featured online editorial today explains:
We can put an end to those awful robocalls - My bill will require companies to use preventive technology at no extra cost.
By Zack Stephenson -- November 8, 2019 — 5:44pm
We all have experienced it — the perpetual buzz on our mobile phones from familiar numbers, with a local area code, but are actually spoof calls, commonly known as robocalls. However, these calls aren’t just a nuisance — swindlers also use them to prey on senior citizens, vulnerable adults, and landline phone users, many of whom do not have caller-ID.
According to statistics gathered by the State Department of Commerce, Minnesotans have received more than 387 million robocalls so far in 2019, which is approximately 58 calls per impacted person. Scammers use “spoofing” technology, which allows telephone calls originating from across the world to show up on a caller ID with a local area code.
Once a robocaller gets someone on the phone, they engage in increasingly aggressive fraud. Posing as a utility company, bank, or the IRS, fraudsters attempt to convince people that their power will be shut off, their checking account closed, or even that a warrant will be issued for their arrest unless they make an immediate payment.
In fact, cases of financial fraud and exploitation against senior citizens are on the rise nationwide. According to the 2010 Investor Protection Trust Elder Fraud Survey, one out of every five people over the age of 65 has been a victim of a financial swindle.
In Minnesota, several cases of fraud have emerged. In September of 2016, the Star Tribune reported on an 88-year-old Robbinsdale man with Alzheimer’s disease who was swindled out of more than $200,000. Eagan Police Chief Roger New reported last month that he expected telephone fraud to result in over $500,000 in losses just in his city.
As the explosion of fraudulent robocalls grows, we must demand a strong response that holds bad actors accountable. That is why I am proposing bold legislation to crack down on these predatory schemes.
There is more, at Strib, with that being Stephenson's opening.
Fraud in the robocalling is real, but the actual burning nuisance is the plethora of such calls, themselves with whatever orientation the caller has - your bank account in peril, social security needs, or your computer needs attention from the caller misrepresenting himself as "Microsoft" when he's doing a sham if you let him. The calls themselves are the essence of evil, even when we stand not gullible enough to be suckered, but bothered from better things by the asshole callers. Any bill that curbs that abuse of the population is a godsend. So read the remainder of the Stephenson editorial, and get behind the effort to end the unnecessary abuse the phone companies are selling to swindlers and grifters as a way to annoy everybody.
End that crap, and the world will spin better on its axis; ya sure, ya betcha. Again, the Strib link, and this from the online item -
Under my proposed toughest-in-the-nation anti-robocall legislation, all telecommunications companies would be required to use the latest and strongest anti-robocall technology at no extra cost to the consumer. Criminal charges would result in a felony whenever identify theft or a swindle is a result of a robocall. My bill also gives legal tools to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Attorney General and consumers themselves to take action when they receive these would-be illegal calls.
LAST: Strib does not link to Stephenson's bill text. Nor is it listed here, suggesting the bill text exists but has not yet been put on record. Which is the case. Websearech, and this item explain,
Under Rep. Stephenson’s legislation, robo-calls would be illegal, and would include criminal enhancements to felony level whenever identify theft or a swindle is a result of a robo-call. The bill also gives legal tools to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Attorney General, and consumers themselves to take action when they receive these would-be illegal calls.
Rep. Stephenson’s legislation requires all telecommunications companies to implement the latest and strongest anti-robo-call technology at no additional cost to the consumer. While current technology exists to allow telecom companies to block spoofed calls before they ever reach a caller, Rep. Stephenson’s priority is to ensure technology is strengthened and working to benefit every single Minnesotan.
“Robo-calls are at best a constant nuisance for Minnesotans and at worst a scam targeting some of the most vulnerable among us,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “It’s time for us to act and make sure Minnesotans are protected.”
Rep. Stephenson’s legislation will be introduced when the 2020 legislative session begins on February 11.
[italics emphasis added] Interestingly, Stephenson is lead author on a Minnesota proposed Net Neutrality bill, so the man understands what the public needs from service providers - decency and respect, net neutrality, and an end to the abject evil of robocalls.
What is there NOT to like? Bless wisdom, in all its manifestations.
UPDATE: Reporting, PiPress, Strib, Bemidgi Pioneer.