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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS
ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House and Senate adjourned on time today, after one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent memory. Lawmakers delivered meaningful health care reform, needed property tax relief, a significant transportation package, essential funding for education, long-overdue increases in funding for nursing homes, ground breaking environmental and energy policy, and balanced a $935 million budget deficit without raising taxes.
"Minnesotans came together and worked hard to make it happen this session," said State Representative Kim Norton (DFL - Rochester) who is completing her first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. "As Democrats, we stuck to the basics - the bread and butter issues Minnesotans care about most. We made our state a better, healthier, more affordable place to live, and that's something all Minnesotans can celebrate."
After ten months of work with fellow lawmakers, health care experts, and private practitioners, Rep. Norton was particularly pleased that a nation-leading health care reform bill (HF 3924/SF 3780) was approved by the Legislature this session. The reform package will provide access to health care for an additional 12,000 Minnesotans, hold health care costs to no more than 8.8 percent of one's income (under 300 percent of FPG), implements nation-leading payment reforms, enacts a statewide public health improvement plan to address obesity/over weight and tobacco use in our state, and institutes innovative preventative and medical care measures aimed at curbing costly chronic diseases.
"Passing this health care reform bill marks a major milestone in Minnesota health policy," said Rep. Norton. "This unique effort has put our state ahead of the rest in terms of reform, quality, and affordability. Minnesota has taken meaningful action, hammering out real solutions to the serious problems facing our health care system today. There's a lot more work to do, but this legislature has taken a big step forward in making health care accessible and affordable for all Minnesotans."
Rep. Norton is also pleased that Rochester School District #535 will receive an additional $940,000 in 2009 amounting to $51 in new funding for every Rochester student - $30 of which will be ongoing funding dedicated to Minnesota schools from the Permanent School Trust Fund. This initiative will lay the groundwork for long-term education funding reform in the coming legislative session.
"It is pretty remarkable what we were able to accomplish this session in the face of a $935 million budget shortfall," said Rep. Norton. "But by setting priorities, we were able to balance the budget responsibly and deliver on health care reform, education, and property tax relief."
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
A long list of accomplishments in a number of important areas highlight the many notable success of the 2008 Legislative Session, including:
Education
· Delivered an additional $51 per student for all Minnesota schools including $940,000 for Rochester School District #535;
· Held down tuition at state colleges and universities; and
· Provided a Teachers of Color Pilot Project grant for WSU/Rochester Schools.
Health Care Reform
· Increased access to health care and made coverage more affordable;
· Established new incentives for preventative care
· Enacted a statewide public health improvement plan aimed at reducing obesity and tobacco use; and
· Increased funding for nursing homes (4 percent COLA increase in '08, and 2 percent in '09).
Property Tax Relief
· Delivered $25 million in direct relief to Minnesota homeowners based on ability to pay;
· Provided an additional $60 million in Local Government Aid; and
· Implemented a 3.9 percent levy limit for local governments over the next three years, indexed for inflation.
Transportation
· Provided essential resources to maintain safe roads and bridges;
· Increased efficiency through new oversight and accountability measures; and
· Enhanced safety measures and graduated drivers licenses for teen drivers.
Jobs and Economic Development
· Made health care coverage more affordable for small employers;
· Enhanced and continued the Lifetrack job skills training grant in Rochester;
· Created 40,000 jobs through public improvement efforts; and
· Encouraged entrepreneurship and investments in high-tech industries.
Environment and Natural Resources
· Gave voters the choice this November to dedicate a new portion of the sales tax (3/8 of one percent) to the environment and natural resources, parks, and cultural heritage;
· Invested in environmental improvements, flood mitigation efforts, water treatment facilities; and
· Established a committee to study and make recommendations on cap and trade.
Capital Improvements
· Dedicated over 70 percent of this year's bonding bill to Minnesota's higher education institutions and economic development efforts;
· Provided planning funding for the Rochester Mayo Civic Center and the Rochester Community and Technical College/Workforce co-location; and
· Delivered funding for a Southeastern Minnesota Regional Public Safety Training Center, drudging and restoration of Lake Zumbro, Chester Woods Trail, and HEAPR funding for Rochester Community and Technical College.
Additional information on over 4,000 bills introduced this biennium can be found online at www.house.mn.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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