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State Representative Andrew Falk
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4228
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
Column/LTE
GOP BUDGET PASSED UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS
For the second time in two weeks, the Minnesota House of Representatives met into the early hours of the morning passing both the omnibus K-12 education bill and omnibus Health and Human Services bill. These two bills alone deal with more than 60% of the state’s budget. While I don’t believe that passing critically important bills at 3 AM is good public policy, I cannot fault the Republicans for passing these bills in the dark of night beyond the watchful eye of the public. If the public knew what was in these bills, they would be outraged.
So what does “Government living within its means" look like? The House Health and Human Services committee was charged with cutting $1.65 billion from their budget. That means harmful cuts to the elderly, disabled, and poor. Seniors and persons with disabilities who receive services that allow them to live at home (which actually saves the state money) instead of in a nursing home or other long term care facility are being asked to absorb the largest cuts. In addition, there are $783 million dollars in “anticipated” savings that are not supported by fiscal notes (the non-partisan documents prepared by budgetary experts that explain what a bill will cost or save). When those fake savings do not materialize, it will mean additional cuts to health care facilities such as hospitals and long term care facilities as well as services for the elderly, disabled, and poor.
Perhaps the most heartless aspect is a provision included in the omnibus Senate Health and Human Services bill that would specifically cut payment for eyeglasses, dentures, and prosthetics under Medical Assistance. What the Senate Republicans have proposed is taking away the devices that allow the poor and the disabled in our state to have meaningful lives and participate in our society. Once again, instead of asking a single adult with no kids who earns $100,000 per year to pay an additional $100 in taxes, the Republicans continue to protect the wealthy at the expense of the most vulnerable.
Perhaps the most radical aspect of this bill is the attempt by Tea Party members and Republicans to assert state sovereignty and refuse participation in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act otherwise known as Federal Health Care Reform. While I know that people have mixed feelings about the PPACA, we live in a representative democracy and a majority of our elected officials in Congress supported the measure and the President signed it into law. Attempting to secede from the United States of America because you don’t like health care reform makes no sense.
As always, on these issues and any others confronting us this legislative session, I’d appreciate your input. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-4228 or email at rep.andrew.falk@house.mn.
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