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State Representative Tina Liebling
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0573
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REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO JOIN DFLERS IN RIGHTING WRONG TO PCA’S
ST. PAUL — Tonight, the Minnesota House of Representatives debated the Health and Human Services Omnibus bill. Representative Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), the DFL Lead member on the Health and Human Services Reform Committee, offered two amendments that would have reversed the 20 percent wage cut to Personal Care Assistants (PCA) who provide care to a relative. Those cuts were enacted in last year’s budget.
After issuing a temporary order to block the cuts last fall, a judge recently ruled that the cuts could be imposed.
The first amendment offered would have closed corporate tax loopholes to reverse the wage cut. The second amendment would have used funding generated by capping HMO profits at one percent to restore pay to PCAs. Republicans refused to vote on the first amendment and ruled it out of order. The second amendment was defeated on a party-line vote.
Rep. Liebling released the following statement:
“These decisions are about priorities. Republicans refused to ask the wealthiest Minnesotans and corporations to pay their fair share and instead decided to balance the budget on the backs of people who are just getting by. Now, they refused to join with us in righting this wrong.
“These PCAs are providing great care at a lower cost to the state. These people are making sacrifices and doing this out of love for their family members. We should be thanking these people, not paying them less than a stranger would earn for the same care.
“All of us know someone who cares for a family member or works as a PCA. Their stories are heartbreaking. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. I’m disappointed that Republicans wouldn’t join us in doing the right thing."
News Items
- House Of Representatives Passes Omnibus Education Bill - (Posted: May 18 2013 12:00AM)
- House Passes Omnibus HHS Finance Bill - (Posted: Apr 16 2013 10:13AM)
- Rep. Liebling: Medicaid Expansion Good for Minnesotans and State Budget - (Posted: Feb 19 2013 12:00AM)
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