Rep. Kim Norton: Report To Constituents
04/10/2008
Rochester, MN (April 10,2008) The last several weeks have marked several major milestones in the 2008 Legislative Session – final passage of this year's bonding bill, the initial phases of balancing the budget, and progress on comprehensive health care reform in our state. Committee deadlines have passed now and much of the upcoming legislative work is being taken up on both the House floor and conference committee.
Below is an update on a number of major issues moving through the Legislature this session. Much has been accomplished already, but there is still a lot of work to do before session adjourns on May 19th. Please continue contacting me with your questions, comments, or concerns throughout the remainder of the session by phone at (651) 296-9249 or by email at . I look forward to hearing from you.
Kim Norton
State Representative
NEXT CONSTITUENT MEETING
Second Saturday of the Month (April 12, 2008)
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Dunn Brothers Coffee
120 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester
BALANCING THE BUDGET
Minnesota is facing a $935 million budget deficit this year because of the state's cooling economy. After careful review of the state's budget situation, the House passed a common sense plan that responsibly resolves the budget deficit while maintaining our commitment to Minnesota's students and most vulnerable citizens.
The House budget-fix (HF 1812) implements a number of cuts, taps a reasonable portion of the state's reserve and cash flow funds, and closes tax loopholes for foreign operating corporations. The bill also increases funding for education and nursing homes, and holds tuition harmless at state colleges and universities – without raising taxes.
In fact, HF 1812 provides over $940,000 of new funding for Rochester School District #535 in FY 2009 – sorely needed resources for basic school operations that will maintain a quality level of education for our students.
Working closely with Governor Pawlenty, a conference committee of the House and Senate will be meeting throughout the remainder of the session to deliver a balanced, fiscally responsible approach to resolving this year's budget deficit.
More information about HF 1812 can be found online at http://www.house.mn.
FIXING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives is taking action on a comprehensive Health Care Reform package (HF 3391) that would lower health care costs for all Minnesotans – making our state a healthier, better, and more affordable place to live. With skyrocketing health care costs and a broken health care system, this important reform effort comes at a crucial time.
According to the Census Bureau, more Minnesotans are without health insurance than ever before – the rising cost of health care being the number one barrier to affordable health care coverage. Over the last ten years, health care premiums in Minnesota have more than doubled – making access to affordable health care increasingly difficult. In fact, 1 in 5 Minnesotans (approximately 1 million people) spend 10 percent or more of their annual income on health care. Additionally, 250,000 Minnesotans spend over a quarter of their income on health care.
The rising cost of health care is taking a toll on state government as well. If nothing is done to resolve the problems currently facing our health care system, state spending on health care will top $10 billion by 2011. By reforming our payment system under HF 3391, Minnesota could make health care coverage more affordable and accessible for Minnesotans while reducing state health care spending over $2 billion by 2011.
The Health Care Reform bill takes a new approach at reforming Minnesota's health care system. It focuses on improving the quality of health care in Minnesota, expanding current efforts at preventative care, and lowering health care costs associated with chronic health care conditions. The bill would then take savings accrued from these reforms to ensure that no Minnesotan pays more than 8 percent of their annual income on health care costs.
Passing this bill would:
§ Ensure 96 percent of Minnesotans have health care coverage by 2011;
§ Promote cost-effective, high quality care;
§ Lower administrative costs (including a provision I authored to cut down on administrative waste); and
§ Promote public health.
This important piece of legislation was developed over the course of the last ten months at 75 hearings held by the Legislative Health Care Access Commission, the Transformation Task Force, and the House Health and Human Services Committee. Testimony and participation from health practitioners, the insurance industry, and health policy experts from across the political spectrum was instrumental in crafting this proposal.
As a member of the Health Care Access Commission and the House Committee, I was continually engaged in these important discussions and remain committed to achieving solid health care reform this year that will significantly improve our health care system, lower costs, and provide affordable access to all Minnesotans.
More information about HF 3391 can be found online at http://www.house.mn.
ROCHESTER BENEFITS FROM BONDING PASSAGE
Monday, Governor Pawlenty signed this year's capital investment bill into law, with a number of line-item vetoes. Even after over $200 million in cuts, many of Rochester's top priorities remained in the bill. These important projects will bring jobs and infrastructure improvements to our community, including:
§ Planning for the Rochester Mayo Civic Center;
§ A Southeastern Minnesota Regional Public Safety Training Center;
§ Drudging and restoration of Lake Zumbro;
§ Funding for Chester Woods Trail;
§ Funding for basic upkeep at Rochester Community and Technical College; and
§ Planning for the Rochester Community and Technical College/Workforce co-location.
While there is much to celebrate in the bill, several Rochester area projects unfortunately were lost to the Governor's veto pen – including funding for the National Volleyball Center and planning funds for the Southeast Express (a rail line connecting Rochester and the Twin Cities).
Kim Norton
House of Representatives-29B