Rep. Kim Norton: June Newsletter
06/03/2009
Dear Neighbors,
Facing a record $6.4 billion budget shortfall this session, the legislature made priority-based budget cuts, eliminated programs that didn’t work, and cut excessive spending. The legislature passed a balanced budget that protected students first, minimized cuts to hospitals and nursing homes, and stemmed deeper job losses. Unfortunately, the governor, while signing almost every budget bill, vetoed the tax bill that would have provided the revenue to sustain the overall plan.
The governor and legislature agreed on 5/6 of the solution: $2 billion in cuts, $1.8 billion in federal funds, and $1.8 billion in delayed school payments. We agreed new revenue was needed to fill the remaining $1 billion gap and avoid further damaging cuts. We disagreed on how to raise that revenue.
Governor Pawlenty planned to borrow $1 billion: a plan that would rack up $800 million in interest and take 20 years to pay off. The House voted down that measure 130-2 because borrowing our way out of a deficit isn’t fiscally responsible. We all recognized the need for a long-term solution to our budget situation, not an irresponsible short-term fix.
I supported a pay-as-you go plan to raise $1 billion dedicated exclusively to minimizing damage to our hospitals, schools, and nursing homes by:
• Tax on credit card companies charging excessive interest
• A temporary, moderate income tax increase for Minnesota’s highest earners (over $250,000)
• 3-5 cent alcohol tax increase (first in 22 years)
• Business support through tax credits
Unfortunately, Governor Pawlenty vetoed this reasonable compromise. Instead the governor plans to make further damaging cuts by himself through the unallotment process to hospitals, higher education, and other critical state services to balance the budget. Unallotment is a rarely used tool meant only for times of emergency when the state is facing an unanticipated deficit. The process has only been used 4 times in the state’s history.
The full consequences of the governor’s unallotment plans are not yet fully understood. We can glean some intent based on the line-item veto that eliminated General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) in Minnesota that cut $381 million from our hospitals dedicated exclusively to treat the poorest people in the state – including veterans and senior citizens. In total the cut will eliminate medical care for 30,000 of Minnesota’s poorest, sickest citizens and cost as many as 8,000 jobs in hospitals across the state.
Locally, Governor Pawlenty’s line-item veto amounts to a $23.2 million cut to Rochester area hospitals, including:
• $19.3 million in cuts to St. Mary’s Hospital
• $2 million in cuts to Rochester Methodist Hospital
• $1.4 million in cuts to Mayo Psychiatry and Psychology
• $455 thousand in cuts to Olmsted Medical Center
The impact of these cuts and what they might mean for Minnesotans is frightening to many; not simply the loss of health care for so many, but the impact to those who will lose their jobs in the health care industry as a result.
I am deeply disappointed in the governor’s decision to balance the budget with further damaging cuts to critical state services without working with the legislature or considering the input of the public. Still, I will continue working to make your concerns known to the governor to ensure this process meets the needs of our community, so please continue contacting me with your questions and concerns.
Kim Norton
State Representative
District 29B
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CONSTITUENT MEETING
Please join me for a community discussion of the 2009 Legislative Session and other community-related issues. All residents of Rochester are encouraged to attend. Invite your friends.
Second Saturday of the Month (June 13, 2009)
8:30am – 9:30am
Dunn Brothers Coffee
120 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester
BILLS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW
You can find a comprehensive list of bills passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Pawlenty on the governor’s bill log at: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/priorities/legislation/index.htm
KIM’S BILLS
I introduced and passed a number of bills this session that were signed into law, including:
• HF108 – Seat belt violation made a primary offense in all seating positions regardless of age, and increased speed limit provided when passing
• HF823 – Dental Therapist Position Created (compromise bill approved)
• HF23 – New steam line from Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility to Rochester Community and Technical College Campus funding provided, bonds issued and money appropriated
• HF1785 – Requiring accountability measures at DEED before state dollars appropriated
• HF1694 – Vinland Center for rehabilitation services funding provided, and money appropriated
• HF1338 – Standard reference compendia definition expanded
• HF1276 – County human services mandates modified
• HF1080 – Comprehensive scientifically based reading instruction definition clarified, prekindergarten through grade six teachers requirements made, reading instruction assessment created, and Board of Teaching rules legislative review provided
• HF666 – Nursing home and home care regulations modified
• HF240 – Licensure for physician assistants created
• HF786 – Broker or coordinator prohibited to manage nonemergency medical transportation services
• HF552 – University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation partnership research money appropriated
• And an amendment to include Rochester (IMAA) in Lifetrack funding grant opportunities
Several bills I introduced unfortunately did not become law this year, but will be pursued in the future, including:
• HF72 – Lifelong learning account program established, tax credits allowed to employers and employees for contributions to lifelong learning accounts, funding provided and money appropriated
• HF193 – Rochester; National Volleyball Center funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated
• HF194 – Labor Day school start provision repealed
• HF195 – Labor Day school start provisions repealed for two years, and study provided
• HF359 – Autism spectrum disorders coverage required
• HF439 – Statewide academic standards required for physical education
• HF984 – Medical assistance coverage of primary care health care providers performing primary caries prevention services as part of the child and teen checkup program authorized
Several bills were introduced this year but either not granted a hearing or were intended to be heard next year:
• HF1308 – Uniform technology and data standards required for local public health agencies, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding provided, and money appropriated
• HF1350 – Fair claims processing act's automobile insurance claims provisions amended, and third-party claimants rights in insurance settlements provided
• HF1000 – Highway 14 designated as Black and Yellow Trail
• HF1033 – School district primary election required in certain jurisdictions
• HF410 – Plasma protein therapies and home nursing services coverage required, and medical assistance coverage of plasma protein therapies required
You can find a comprehensive list of bills I authored and co-authored online at: http://www.house.mn/29B.
UNDERSTANDING UNALLOTMENT
Historically unallotment is a rarely used executive tool used only in emergencies. It has been used just 4 times in Minnesota history. Traditionally, when the governor and legislature have not reached an agreement on a final budget solution, the governor has called the legislature back for a special session.
Governor Pawlenty has chosen instead to use unallotment this year rather than call a special session.
You can find out more about how unallotment works and the history of this process on the nonpartisan Session Weekly website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessionweekly/art.asp?ls_year=85&issueid_=19&storyid=543&year_=2008
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WANTS YOUR SUGGESTIONS
At the beginning of the legislative session, state lawmakers traveled the state to gather input from Minnesotans about how to balance the state budget shortfall. We passed a balanced budget based on your priorities.
Unfortunately, there was disagreement with the governor on how to resolve the last $1 billion of the deficit. Governor Pawlenty now plans to make $1 billion more in cuts through the unallotment process. He has asked Minnesotans to weigh in with suggestions by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
I encourage you to offer the governor your input and support as he wrestles with some very difficult decisions. I pledge to do the same, exhausting every effort to make your concerns and input known so that this process meets the very real and important needs of our state and future.
Kim Norton
House of Representatives-29B