Accessibility menu
State Representative Linda Slocum
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7158
For more information contact:
E-Update
Legislative Update -- March 22, 2012
Dear Neighbors,
The legislative session is wrapping up its ninth week. Despite the fact that we’re so far along in session, little action has been taken to increase job growth or enact a bonding bill to improve our state’s infrastructure.
I want to give you a mid-session update on a few of the major issues at the Capitol this year.
Education
Last year’s final budget agreement — which I voted against — borrowed $700 million more from our schoolchildren. The additional money from the November forecast has allowed us to begin paying it back; we still owe another $2.4 billion.
I fully support paying back our schools and kids — and the sooner the better.
Last week, Republicans passed a bill that would drain $430 million from our budget reserves — essentially the state’s savings account — to make a one-time payment.
DFL members have proposed closing loopholes that allow corporations to avoid paying taxes on money they keep overseas. By closing these loopholes, our plan would pay back that entire amount that we owe our children over a number of years. The Republicans opposed this plan.
I believe that using our state’s savings account is fiscally reckless. In addition, if we use up our savings, we’ll be in even deeper debt and deficit in the event of a natural disaster or slower economic recovery.
Minnesota kids should be our priority and it’s time to pay them the entire amount we owe in a fiscally responsible manner.
Taxes
Under the guise of job creation, Republicans passed a tax bill that gives property tax breaks to big corporations while raising taxes on Minnesota renters, including seniors and the disabled. The Renters’ Credit is a property tax refund program that helps about 300,000 renters.
Over 25 percent of those who receive refunds are seniors and people with disabilities. Many live on fixed incomes. This is a hardship for seniors living on a fixed income, disabled people, college students paying tuition and anyone who lives paycheck to paycheck.
I have co-authored a bill to restore the Homestead Credit, which is a much better way to achieve some property tax relief. This Homestead Credit bill requires the state to pay the refund to homeowners, removing a bad state practice in recent years that placed the responsibility to pay the refund onto county and city governments.
The 44-year old Homestead Credit provided direct relief to 95% of homeowners. It was a targeted credit that showed up automatically on property tax statements and its removal has led to substantial property taxes hikes for homeowners, businesses, farmers and renters alike. The Homestead Credit ought to be restored to provide relief to all property owners.
Health and Human Services
Governor Dayton released his Supplemental FY12-13 Budget proposal. The proposal includes $5.9 million for Personal Care Attendant (PCA) funding to help correct some of the cuts made to the program in last year’s budget. The budget passed during special session cut the wages of people who provide PCA care to a relative by 20 percent. A judge temporarily blocked this discriminatory cut, but a legislative fix is needed.
I applaud Governor Dayton’s decision to correct some of the devastating cuts to the Personal Care Attendant funding. The PCAs whose wages were cut are caring for disabled family members, and providing excellent care at a lower cost to the state. They aren’t doing this for the money; it’s a labor of love.
The supplemental budget also includes $6.4 million for Medical Education Research Costs, and $4.7 million for emergency, life-saving care like chemotherapy and dialysis for the poorest and sickest Minnesotans.
Investments in medical education are so important to Minnesota’s future. These investments pay for themselves.
Governor Dayton’s supplemental budget is funded by narrowing a corporate tax loophole for overseas income. This proposal would narrow that 80 percent tax preference to 62 percent this year and 39 percent next year.
As we close in on two years since the federal Affordable Care Act was signed into law, bills to set up a health insurance exchange have been introduced. An exchange is a competitive, online marketplace for consumers and small businesses to find the best health insurance plan to suit the needs of their family or employees.
This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is a common-sense, Minnesota-made solution to not only improve our health care system, but to help create jobs.
Rather than focusing on common-sense reforms, members of the majority are focused on bills that cut off assistance to people who desperately need it. Many of the people who receive state assistance have full-time jobs, but simply do not make enough money to pay rent, or feed their family. The programs help those people get back on their feet and over time, off assistance.
As always, I welcome your questions, comments, feedback and concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for the great honor of serving you in the legislature. I consider carefully what would be best for Richfield and Bloomington before I cast my vote in the House.
Linda Slocum
State Representative
News Items
- New Legislation Increases Local Control - (Posted: May 21 2013 12:02PM)
- Protecting Families After Losing A Loved One - (Posted: May 6 2013 3:44PM)
- Homeowners, Richfield & Bloomington Benefit From Property Tax Relief Legislation - (Posted: Apr 8 2013 6:44PM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.