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State Representative Tina Liebling
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0573
For more information contact: Melissa Parker 651-296-8873
NEWS COLUMN
Letter from the Capitol -- February 23, 2005
Greetings from the Capitol. It has been another busy week. Here are some highlights.
Building bipartisan relationships
On Monday, February 21, I had dinner with most of the members of the freshman class—part of our continuing effort to build bipartisan relationships. Governor Pawlenty and one of his top aides joined us for about 30 minutes. We had a pleasant time not talking about politics or policy. During our conversation he made the point that when you know people it is harder to vilify them and I agree.
Governors often propose legislation, but they must find a willing legislator to move it forward. During that meeting I told the governor's director of legislative affairs that I am interested in sponsoring the governor’s proposed bill to ban the sale of flavored cigarettes in Minnesota—a product we believe targets children. In the spirit of bipartisanship I hope the governor will take me up on that offer.
More progress on the bonding bill
On Tuesday, February 22, we met in session to debate the bonding bill. Most members want to get a bonding bill passed and on its way to the conference committee. Opponents of the Northstar rail project brought several amendments on the House floor but they were all defeated. After about three hours of debate I was happy to vote “yes" for a bonding bill that is a fair deal for Rochester and, I believe, a fair deal for the rest of the state. The bill now goes to a conference committee where differences between the House and Senate versions can be worked out. This gives the Rochester legislative delegation another opportunity to push for full funding for Rochester's projects and move this bill from "fair" to "excellent."
Making health care insurance more affordable
On Wednesday, February 23, we had an interesting debate in the Commerce and Finance Committee concerning a bill that would allow insurance companies to offer "flexible" health insurance plans to employers.
We all know too many from personal experience—that many small businesses find it almost impossible to buy insurance for their employees. This bill's purpose is to help control the cost of insurance so small employers can insure their workers. All of the committee members share this goal.
These "flexible" plans allow companies to offer coverage that does not comply with the requirements in Minnesota law.
Minnesota has about 60 of these requirements, which include things like alcoholism treatment, well childcare, and care for adopted children--more requirements than any other state in the nation. Still, health insurance costs less in Minnesota than in many states with fewer requirements. Before we approve flexible plans, we need to determine whether freeing some health insurance plans from state requirements will truly be better for business, consumers, and our state. To determine that, we need to ask and answer the following questions:
1) Will these policies be affordable enough that small businesses will really buy them?
2) Will small businesses be able to compare policies effectively when there is no standard coverage?
3) Will employees know what they are getting?
4) Will people with limited coverage end up on public programs because the insurance does not cover their outpatient surgery, chemotherapy, or other legitimate but costly health care needs?
Because these questions were not fully answered, I chose to vote against this proposal at this time.
Instead, I am supporting a different plan to accomplish the same goal. This plan would let small employers insure their workers under MinnesotaCare without subsidy from the state. I am also supporting a proposal called the Children's Health Security Act, put forward by the Children’s Defense Fund, which uses money from a cigarette tax to phase in a program that would eventually cover ALL children in the state.
Together, these initiatives would provide real savings and better health care coverage because:
1) Pooling large numbers of people spreads risk and lowers individual costs.
2) Ensuring that all of our kids get the best opportunity for a healthy start and preventive care can reduce the need for costlier forms of health care such as emergency room visits.
3) Covering more families under MinnesotaCare will relieve some of the financial burden currently shouldered by employer-provided health insurance.
You can learn more about this proposal at the website of the Children's Defense Fund, www.cdf-mn.org.
If you are interested in health care or other legislative topics, please attend our Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, March 2, 7-8:30 PM at the Rochester Public Library. Andy Welti and I will lead the discussion, and will be joined by several other representatives. (I apologize that my last newsletter had the wrong date. The meeting is this coming Wednesday.)
Listening to your ideas and concerns
Several groups recently held their "Day on the Hill," including Dentists, Library groups, supporters of Early Childhood Family Education, and the Minnesota Private College Council. The halls and offices were packed with people visiting their legislators. One dad came to see me in support of PAIR (Parents Are Important in Rochester) with his infant and preschool daughters in tow. Three-year-old Emma told me: I like PAIR. Will you get us more money for PAIR? Now there's an effective citizen-lobbyist!
New bills I am introducing
Besides hearing bills in my committees, I am working on introducing several bills of my own. Some of these come out of concerns raised by constituents, such as my bill (with Rep. Brita Sailer of Park Rapids) to establish toll-free phone lines for out-state Minnesotans to get tax information from the Minnesota Department of Revenue. I am also working on legislation to improve efficiency and accountability at the Capitol with my bill to exempt cities and counties from paying sales tax--mostly property tax dollars--to the state.
It is a great honor and privilege to serve you in the Minnesota House. Please continue to visit, call, e-mail, and write.
P.S. -- Don't forget the Town Hall Meeting, Wednesday, March 2, 7-8:30 PM at the Rochester Public Library.
News Items
- Rep. Tina Liebling Named Chair of House Health and Human Services Policy Committee - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Statement on DEED Bonding Project Announcement - (Posted: 2012-09-13 00:00:00)
- Local Legislators to Hold Town Hall Meeting - (Posted: 2012-07-19 00:00:00)
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