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State Representative Joe Mullery
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4262
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
NEWS COLUMN
Issue Update from Rep. Joe Mullery
CHANGES IN LIENS FOR LONG-TERM CARE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Liens that were placed on life estates and joint tenancies created prior to August 1, 2003, will be withdrawn and any collection the state has already made will be refunded. The state is finally complying with the constitution on this issue. When the law was passed in 2003, I spoke several times to point out that it was unconstitutional. Every court, including our appellate courts, have now said that it was unconstitutional.
Liens will no longer be placed on property to recover the costs of alternative care benefits. However, if a person receives alternative care benefits and later enters a nursing home, the state will make a claim on the person’s estate to recover alternative care costs.
Irrevocable trusts are now considered to be revocable by operation of law for the purpose of determining eligibility for Medical Assistance, if the trust was executed by the donor after July 1, 2005.
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PRESCRIPTION DRUGS EXEMPT FROM USE TAX
All purchases of prescription drugs from sellers who do not collect the Minnesota Care tax (usually because they are outside Minnesota’s taxing jurisdiction) were subject to the Minnesota Care use tax. This was hindering the program to help seniors buy medicines from Canada. I didn’t think that we should be driving up costs for people who need medicines for their health and we passed a law that exempts the purchase of prescription drugs for personal consumption from the use tax.
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LIMITED MARKET VALUE TREATMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES IS EXTENDED
Limited market value is a state law that protects property owners from large increases in taxes based merely on the fact that their property market value increases quickly in comparison to the market value of other properties in the taxing district. In recent years, limited market value has been beneficial to most homeowners in our community.
The law was being phased out over the next couple years. I authored a bill to extend limited market value for a few more years and keep it at the present rate rather than lowering it. I have been the leading author of limited market value extension bills over the last few years. This year, we were successful and limited market value is extended at its present value for two more years and the complete phase-out termination was extended two additional years, until 2009.
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NEW INITIATIVE TO REDUCE ABORTIONS
For probably the first time since I was elected, both sides of the abortion debate worked to formulate a new program to encourage and assist women in carrying their pregnancies to full term. The law is intended to reduce the number of abortions by giving money to organizations that provide information, referrals, and services to women to help them carry their pregnancies to full term and care for their babies after birth. This alternative to abortion will support, encourage, and assist women by offering services such as medical care, nutritional services, housing assistance, adoptive services, and assistance with education, employment, and childcare, under the law. The state will give grants to private, non-profit organizations which conduct the program under appropriate supervision, provide the services free of charge, provide counseling, and ensure that none of the money will be used to encourage or counsel a woman to have an abortion or directly refer women to an abortion provider. Organizations that are affiliated with groups that provide abortion services need to demonstrate that this particular organization is independent from abortion services.
News Items
- Reminder: Primary - August 14; Some Voting Locations May Have Changed - (Posted: 2012-07-08 00:00:00)
- Passing of Dr. John Williams - (Posted: 2012-07-09 00:00:00)
- Rep. Mullery: 2012 Legislative Report - (Posted: 2012-07-10 00:00:00)
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