Accessibility menu
State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Press/News Releases
HOUSE AND SENATE PASS BUDGET BILLS AND ADJOURN ON TIME
ST. PAUL, MN – State Representative Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault) said she is very pleased that for the first time since 1999, the State Legislature completed their work on time in a budget year. At midnight on Monday, the House adjourned for the year, after passing budget bills that appropriate close to $35 billion to fund areas such as education, health care, economic development and energy.
Rep. Fritz, who served as Vice-Chair of the Health Care Policy Committee, said she is thrilled that over 55 percent of the general fund in the Health and Human Services Bill is providing new money for nursing homes.
"For over thirty years, I have worked hard on behalf of the residents and the employees at nursing homes," said Fritz. "This bill offers a two percent increase in each of the next two years for nursing homes, and begins rebasing of nursing home operating rates in 2009.
This is especially important for rural facilities – they deserve the same reimbursement as metro nursing homes."
This bill also increases the availability of health insurance through MinnesotaCare for almost 80 thousand Minnesotans by 2011; up to 40 thousand of those will be children.
Rep. Fritz said she is also very pleased that the cuts of the previous years to Early Childhood Education, Head Start and the School Readiness program have been restored.
"It is vitally important that our youngest learners get off to a good start," said Fritz. "We have wonderful local programs in our area and I'm very glad they will finally get the state funding they deserve."
The K-12 Education bill addresses school funding shortages by offering nearly $800 million in new funding for schools. This includes $329 million for unfunded special education mandates and $33 million for voluntary All-Day Kindergarten. Both of these appropriations will free up more money from the General Fund for other areas, according to Fritz.
The Higher Education Bill put the brakes on double-digit tuition increases at state colleges and universities.
"This has been a successful session, with balanced and reasonable budget bills, and strong state energy policies and necessary support for our veterans and agriculture," said Fritz.
News Items
- STATE REP. PATTI FRITZ PARTICIPATES IN START OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:32PM)
- Rep. Fritz: Homeowners, Farmers Need Property Tax Relief - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- Rep. Fritz: Let’s Vote on a Bonding Bill that Benefits All - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.