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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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FIRST HOUSE BILLS FOCUS ON THE BASICS
ST. PAUL – Representative Paul Thissen joined his colleagues in the House on Monday to roll out their top eight priorities for the 85th Legislative Session. Five of the first bills to be introduced focus on the key issues of education, health care and property tax reform.
Rep. Thissen, who serves as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, is the chief author of a bill that would provide health insurance coverage for every child in Minnesota.
""I am proud to be carrying House File 1 - the Children's Health Security Act - this session," said Thissen. "Our DFL caucus recognizes that Minnesotans understand the moral, social and economic imperative of making sure all our children have access to a doctor and medical care."
According to a report released last year by the Minnesota Children's Defense Fund, close to 68,000 children in Minnesota are not covered by any health insurance plan. The Children's Health Security Act would address this disparity by establishing a children's health security program. Under the direction of this program, all children in families with household incomes not exceeding 300% of the federal poverty guidelines will be eligible for state health care coverage.
"The goal of the Children's Health Security Act is to ensure all children in Minnesota get the health care they need from a health care system that is efficient, effective and fair," said Thissen. "This act takes a bold and visionary approach that will once again make Minnesota a national leader in health care delivery."
The remaining seven bills include:
· A Property Tax Relief Bill that uses a combination of aid increases to cities and counties, more school aid and levy support and direct credits and refunds to homeowners.
· A Full-Day Kindergarten Bill that would make voluntary full-day kindergarten available in every school district in the state.
· An Early Education Bill that restores funding to 2003 levels and increases school readiness and Head Start funding.
· An Increased K-12 Funding Bill that will increase the basic formula by 3% in 2008 and 3% in 2009.
· A 25/20 Renewable Energy Bill that increases the percentage of retail electric sales that must be generated from eligible renewable sources from the current 10% by 2015 to 5% in 2010, 11% in 2013, 15% in 2015 and 25% in 2020.
· A Lights-On Bill that will prevent government shutdown.
· A Federal Tax Conformity Bill that provides $20 million in tax relief to Minnesota taxpayers, including college students and their families, teachers and military personnel.
"These proposals reflect our commitment to the issues that matter most to Minnesotans," said Thissen. "I'm pleased we are moving so quickly and I believe the moderate fiscal components of these bills and their common sense approach to key issues in our state increase the likelihood they will receive bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate."
News Items
- DFL Leaders Eager to Confront Minnesota’s Challenges with Focus on Economy and Middle Class - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 2:21PM)
- State Representative John Persell appointed Majority Whip - (Posted: Dec 21 2012 1:11PM)
- Speaker-designate Thissen to Establish Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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