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State Representative Phyllis Kahn
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4257
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
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STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE BILL AN ASSAULT ON PUBLIC WORKERS, STATE SERVICES
ST. PAUL — House Republicans released their state government omnibus bill in the State Government Finance Committee today, in an apparent assault on Minnesota’s public workers. The Republican state government budget aims to cuts funding for state government agencies by almost 35 percent.
Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL – Minneapolis) says that this bill amounts to an attack on middle-class Minnesotans.
“This bill is all-out assault on public workers," said Rep. Kahn. “Our public servants work tirelessly day-in and day-out, and they deserve our respect. These are middle-class Minnesotans, doing what they can everyday to make Minnesota a better state.”
HF 577 aims to cut the state workforce by 15 percent and would institute a hiring and wage freeze for the remaining state workforce. Minnesota spends just 8.8 percent of its budget on state employee wages and benefits and according to the Census Bureau, has the 10th leanest state workforce in the country.
“Minnesota already has one of the leanest, most efficient state workforces in the country,” Rep. Kahn added. “This is like using a meat cleaver when you need a scalpel. Republicans could try to eliminate every state worker and it still wouldn’t get you close to solving a $5 billion deficit.”
“These cuts will result in reduced state services, and a less efficient and responsive government. Minnesotans expect more and frankly, deserve more from their government than these proposals will allow. This isn’t reform or redesign; it’s simply more reckless cutting. The supposed ‘Party of Jobs’ continues to do nothing but cut jobs.”
In addition, the State Government Finance budget bill attempts to supersede the Public Employment Labor Relations Act, effectively eliminating collective bargaining for state employees and also forces state agencies to slash their budgets with no legislative direction.
“These ‘choose-a-cuts’ show another example of the majority’s abdication of their legislative responsibilities,” said Rep. Kahn. “We were sent here to do this job, not pass the buck off to someone else.”
The House deadline for finance bills to pass through the committee process is Friday, March 25.
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- House Approves Final Omnibus Legacy Bill - (Posted: May 20 2013 4:53PM)
- Rep. Kahn Votes to Freeze Tuition, Enact Minnesota DREAM Act - (Posted: May 18 2013 3:09PM)
- House Approves Omnibus Legacy Bill - (Posted: May 10 2013 7:09PM)
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