Accessibility menu
State Representative Leon Lillie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1188
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
BUDGET UPDATE
In this time of scarce resources, state legislators have to set priorities, and make difficult decisions to balance the state budget. Last year we faced a $6.4 billion deficit caused by the recession. This year, the budget gap is a little under $1 billion. Next year Minnesota will face another estimated $5.8 billion budget shortfall.
These serious economic challenges require decisive leadership. Already this session, we have passed two major jobs bills to get thousands of Minnesotans back to work. And we moved quickly to resolve one-third of the deficit.
The first part of the budget solution (HF1671) made $312 million in cuts. State lawmakers and Governor Pawlenty found agreement on spending reductions in 10 budget areas, making the decisions necessary to move toward a balanced budget.
Now we are working on the remainder of the budget solution. Health and human services (HHS) and K-12 education are the two remaining pieces that need to be resolved.
The Legislature and Governor have agreed that protecting K-12 classrooms from budget cuts is our highest priority. That makes HHS the only remaining budget area where lawmakers can make additional cuts.
An estimated $408 million coming to Minnesota from the federal government could significantly reduce the cuts to HHS programming. As we make these very difficult decisions, I will do everything I can to minimize the pain to Minnesota’s most vulnerable people – the elderly, sick, and disabled.
-------------------------
I also wanted to mention the importance of registering as an organ donor in Minnesota. Just the other day, I was reminded why organ donation is so important. I was told a good friend of mine needs a kidney. Thankfully a friend of has selflessly offered to donate hers, giving my dear friend the gift of life.
Not everyone is so lucky. Eighteen people will die today in the United States waiting for an organ transplant. Every 11 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.
Recently I renewed my drivers’ license. I had been planning on using this opportunity to be an organ donor. This time I checked the box to become an organ and tissue donor. You can do the same.
The next time you renew your drivers’ license – if not, before – please consider registering as an organ donor. By doing so, you might be able to help someone else in need. Doing so could save the lives of several people and help up to 60 others dealing with serious medical conditions. It’s a way that any one of us could turn a negative situation into a positive one.
To find out more about organ donation, check out the Minnesota Life Source website at www.life-source.org. Please contact me with any questions.
Leon Lillie
State Representative
District 55A
(651) 296-1188
rep.leon.lillie@house.mn
News Items
- SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS AND STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOODS - (Posted: 2012-03-01 00:00:00)
- Email Update -- Feb. 16, 2012 - (Posted: 2012-02-16 00:00:00)
- 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW - (Posted: 2012-01-26 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.