Rep. Norton - Legislative Report 5/17/2009
05/17/2009
Dear Neighbors,
On Thursday afternoon Governor Pawlenty announced he will balance the budget through unallotment and line-item vetoes – tools the governor can use to cut funding without input from the legislature or the public. The full consequences of this plan are not yet understood.
We saw a glimpse Thursday night of what those cuts might look like when the governor eliminated General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC). With one line item veto the governor cut $381 million that was dedicated exclusively to treat the poorest people in the state – including veterans and senior citizens. Those cuts eliminate care for 30,000 Minnesotans.
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 GAMC cuts Governor Pawlenty made affecting Rochester hospitals Thursday will be devastating not only to those who will lose their health care coverage, but to the thousands of dedicated health care professionals in our hospitals who could potentially lose their jobs.
This recession is the worst Minnesota has seen in more than 60 years. Facing the deepest budget deficit in the state’s history, our options are limited. But just because these decisions are difficult does not justify irresponsible, careless decision-making.
We cannot underestimate what a $23.2 million cut means to our hospitals and the effect it could have on our community. Rochester’s economy, and the quality of life for our citizens, is deeply dependent on the health of our hospitals. We cannot sacrifice our jobs, our health, and our future just for the sake of a quick fix.
I am deeply disappointed in the governor’s decision to balance the budget with deep, damaging cuts without working with the legislature or considering the input of the public. The legislature has offered responsible alternatives – a balanced approach that minimizes cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. We also offered a long-term solution to our economic situation rather than a short-term fix by borrowing against future revenues.
Members of the House and Senate have been holding hearings with the governor’s administration over the last several days to learn more details of Governor Pawlenty’s plan for unallotment. You can watch these proceedings online at: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/archivessem.asp?ls_year=86.
The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn Monday at midnight. In the remainder of this session we can find common ground. We must work together to see Minnesota through this crisis and emerge from this session without doing irreparable damage to our state. In the remaining days of session I will continue doing everything I can to make that happen.
Please continue contacting me with your questions and concerns.
Kim Norton
State Representative
District 29B
Kim Norton
House of Representatives-29B