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State Representative John Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9934
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
Press/News Releases
Legislature Moving Swiftly to Tackle Minnesota’s Challenges
To the Editor,
Reflecting the many urgent issues facing our state, the 2010 Legislative Session is moving forward at an accelerated pace with no letup in sight.
An agreement to fix General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) will restore basic medical care for Minnesota’s poorest and sickest citizens, many of them veterans and disabled adults. Additionally, it preserves healthcare for 20,000 working Minnesotans who were at risk of losing their health insurance. The compromise guarantees this vital safety net will continue for those who need it most at a price we can afford.
As part of our aggressive jobs agenda, we’ve introduced legislation that will offer tax credits to emerging businesses, free up capital for growing companies, and eliminate some of the unnecessary red tape businesses navigate. Small businesses are Minnesota’s largest job creators and it just makes sense to do whatever possible to create a more favorable climate for small business growth and expansion, which by extension, will spur job growth.
Another key piece of our jobs plan is the bi-partisan Capital Investment bill we passed to fund higher education, transportation and clean water projects across the state. Projected to create as many as 20,000 new private and public sector jobs, it is headed to the Governor’s desk and may be signed into law by the time you read this, paving the way for workers to get back on the job in time for the spring construction season.
We’ve also received welcome news that Minnesota’s economy is showing improvement. For the first time since 2005, employers added jobs in nearly every economic sector. We also learned our budget deficit, originally predicted to be $1.2 billion, was actually $994 million. The Legislature will balance the budget as required by the state constitution, and will do so I believe, without raising taxes.
We still have a long way to go to get back to a pre-recession job market and firm financial footing. But with the news that things are getting better, now is not the time to take our foot off of the accelerator.
Sincerely,
John Benson
State Representative, District 43B
News Items
- Rep. John Benson: Southwest Light Rail Transit Good For Businesses, Communities, and Our Future - (Posted: 2012-09-13 00:00:00)
- Legislature Passes Bonding & Vikings Bills, Neglects Skyrocketing Property Taxes - (Posted: 2012-05-10 00:00:00)
- Legislative Update - May 8, 2012 - (Posted: 2012-05-08 00:00:00)
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