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State Representative David Bly
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0171
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
Column/LTE
Legislative Session Concludes and Minnesota Moves Forward
It wasn’t that long ago I was campaigning in 2006 to serve as your Representative in Minnesota House. Everyday, I heard from hard working middle-class workers and families who wanted to see something done about rising health care costs, skyrocketing property taxes, and underfunded schools. I am thankful for the ideas and priorities you shared with me. After two productive legislative sessions, we have taken great strides on these bread-and-butter issues.
This year we had the formidable task of balancing a $935 million budget deficit. I believe we kept the values of Minnesotans in mind with the responsible budget-balancing bill that passed with bi-partisan support. We closed the budget deficit through about $300 million in spending cuts, including a 4% cut to the legislature, use of $500 million in budget reserves, and over $100 million through closure of tax loopholes for foreign operating companies. Although there were some cuts to higher education, we fought to ensure the cuts would not result in big tuition increases.
We maintained our commitment to our nursing homes that were hurt badly by 2003 budget cuts. Nursing homes will receive a needed 2% cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) this year, on top of the 2% COLA from last year. This infusion of funds will keep struggling nursing homes open, better staffed, and adequately equipped to provide the quality long-term care our senior citizens deserve.
Our budget bill protected our schools. Every school in the state will receive an additional $51 in per-pupil funding. Especially in our struggling schools, this will prevent teacher cuts and reduce classroom sizes. The needed increase has laid the foundation for significant education funding reform next year. We also restored cuts to critical early education programs like Head Start.
Property tax relief is finally on the way for Minnesotans, after we reached bi-partisan agreement on a property tax relief bill. We will infuse $60 million in Local Government Aid to cities and counties and provide $25 million in direct relief through the property tax refund program.
Minnesota's health care system is broken, and while there is still much more to be done, we took steps in the right direction. Over the last two years, we made health care accessible to more than 70,000 previously uninsured working Minnesotans and over 40,000 children. We also passed health care reforms designed to improve efficiency and lower costs. I am committed to making health care affordable and accessible to every single Minnesotan. We are closer to that goal, but we have much more work ahead of us.
We also made our state a nation-leader on energy with our Renewable Energy Standard, invested in a 21st Century Transportation system by adequately funding our roads and bridges, and invested in a stronger Minnesota economy, both now and in the future, with a job-focused bonding bill.
With the 2008 session in the books, I look forward to discussing your ideas about where you want Minnesota to continue moving forward.
News Items
- Rep.-elect Bly Selected as Vice Chair of Housing Finance and Policy Committee - (Posted: Dec 21 2012 12:06PM)
- House Passes Flood Relief for Southern Minnesota in Special Session - (Posted: 2010-10-18 00:00:00)
- Governor signs eminent domain law to protect landowners - (Posted: 2010-05-03 00:00:00)
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