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State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
FIRST BILL WILL HELP FAMILIES CARING FOR DISABLED
The 2011 legislative session convened on January 4th, just over three weeks ago. Again this session, I will continue to introduce and support legislation that will provide a benefit both for our district and for Minnesotans across the state.
The first bill I introduced this year will provide some help to the hundreds of families across our state who is caring for a disabled family member. More and more families are choosing to care for their loved ones at home, oftentimes at a great cost to their family budget. To help offset some of these costs, I have introduced a bill that would offer them a $2,400 annual tax credit for each disabled family member in their care. While I know this does not come close to covering their costs, I hope it will provide some financial relief for families that are working so hard to care for their loved ones.
Even though the first year of the biennium isn’t typically a bonding year, it appears as though we may have a modest Capital Investment Bill this session. Economists agree that a bonding bill is the best way to create jobs, and we continue to see competitive rates and lower than expected bids. Governor Dayton indicated he will a recommend a list of statewide projects, and has asked the legislature to do the same.
I will soon be introducing a $13 million bonding bill for design and construction at the South Central College in Faribault. As a result of higher unemployment levels, more and more adults are considering attending college for the first time, or returning for retraining for a new career. We need to make the necessary improvements at our local college to not only accommodate an increasing numbers of students but to enhance learning for those who are already enrolled.
I will likely also submit requests for funding for the Mills Town Trail and for the Remember with Dignity program, which puts grave markers on the unmarked graves of deceased residents of state hospitals and regional treatment centers.
This week, Governor Dayton announced that the early Medical Assistance option being offered to Minnesota under the federal Affordable Care Act will be rolled out on March 1st, not October as was projected by the Pawlenty administration. As a result, close to 95,000 Minnesotans will soon have coverage. To qualify, adults without children must have incomes at or below 75 percent of the federal poverty guideline, $677 a month or $8,124 a year for one person.
Instead of the Emergency Room being their only option for care, beginning March 1st they will be able to visit a primary care doctor and dentist, and be treated for mental illness issues. Preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity will help them live healthier lives and keep overall health care costs down.
This is also very good news for our local health care providers. Under the current system, rural health care providers are not receiving any compensation for treating this population. This uncompensated care drives up health care costs for every one of us, both through insurance premiums and the direct cost of care.
Under the MA expansion, about $1.1 billion in federal funds will come into our state over the next biennium, most of it going to health care providers. The state cost of MA early expansion is equivalent to the current cost of providing coverage to GAMC and MinnesotaCare enrollees who will shift to MA. This means Minnesota is providing health coverage to more people and providing them with more benefits with no additional state investment.
Please continue to contact me with you questions and concerns. I can be reached at 651-296-8237, and by email at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn. And, if you are in St. Paul, please stop by my office for a visit. I look forward to hearing from you.
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)
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