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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Carrie Lucking 651-296-4169
Press/News Releases
GOP ‘REFORM:’ BEAT UP ON MIDDLE CLASS, TAKE CREDIT FOR OTHERS’ WORK Statement on GOP ‘reform’ proposals by House Minority Leader Paul Thissen
In just a few minutes, the House GOP will hold a press conference to outline government reform initiatives. DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen released the following statement in anticipation of the announcement:
“Reform without revenue is just another excuse for Republicans to beat up on hard working Minnesotans and take credit for work that’s already been done.
In 2008, the DFL spearheaded ground-breaking health care reforms that saved Minnesotans millions of dollars. Republicans loudly denounced the change. In 2009, the DFL again passed massive public employee pension reforms that increased employee contributions and reduced benefits. After just 10 months, these reforms have already saved the state $6 billion in pension costs. Again, pension reform passed despite Republican opposition.
In fact, the reform that Representative Mack is now touting to modernize and streamline computer systems, as well as simplify applications, was proposed by the DFL and progress has already been made in this area.
The DFL also took the lead on combating fraud in the last 2 years. Reforms initiated and passed by the DFL saved nearly a half million dollars by providing additional enforcement.
Republicans must soon face the reality that “reform" is easy to say, but implementing it is hard work and often requires an up-front investment. For example, modernizing DHS’s computer systems as Rep. Mack suggests could cost approximately $500 million to the HHS budget – a budget that is already being cut by $1.6 billion in the GOP proposal.
Worse than the unfunded Mack proposals, the GOP is packaging an assault on middle class families and workers as ‘reform.’ Slashing thousands of jobs and moving people to unemployment rolls is not reform. Breaking promises to hard working Minnesotans and undermining the fabric of broad prosperity is not reform. Turning Minnesota into Wisconsin or worse is not reform.
The House DFL Caucus has been and will continue to be committed to real reforms that benefit Minnesotans. Because of our leadership, Minnesota has one of the leanest, most efficient, and effective governments in the nation.
In these tough times, reform has to be more than a catch-phrase. It now appears the GOP is taking up reforms borrowed from Democrats, which they previously opposed. Since they have not said how they will fund any of their often borrowed proposals, it’s hard to believe the GOP is really serious about reform.”
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State Representative Paul Thissen is the DFL House Minority Leader. He represents Richfield and part of Minneapolis in the Minnesota State House of Representatives.
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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