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State Representative Tara Mack
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5506
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Email update
House issues budget targets
Greetings-
It has been another hectic week at the Capitol as we continue to move bills through the committee process and address the budget challenges.
This week I enjoyed having the chance to meet with a variety of people from the community. On Wednesday I met with several local restaurant owners to learn about challenges facing the hospitality industry. Thursday I met with a group of local fire chiefs to discuss fire and public safety issues and funding. I also had the privilege of meeting with a group of local principals today to hear from them about education reform ideas and the desire to have some relief from government mandates. I am so impressed with the incredible work, creativity and dedication of our local educators and administrators, as well as our public safety officials and business owners.
Below are a few other highlights from the Legislature this week:
HOUSE BUDGET TARGETS
This week the House budget targets were unveiled erasing our $5 billion budget shortfall and set spending for the next two years. It accomplishes those goals without raising taxes.
The plan is fiscally responsible, sets priorities, provides tax relief and structural reform to help end our trend of outspending the available revenue. The budget proposed prevents tax increases in part by reducing state agency funding by 15 percent and implementing a 15-percent reduction in state government by 2015. It also freezes public employee salaries for two years.
Our budget priorities remain funding for classrooms, veterans and courts. Committees will continue working to put the finer points in place on the budget package and I will keep you up to speed as things evolve.
HEALTH CARE REFORM
Legislation I’ve authored to implement a community paramedics program received approval from the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee. My bill is designed to bring improved efficiency, effectiveness and delivery to health care. This reform sprung from innovative thinking at the Mayo Clinic and, while it has spread throughout the world, Minnesota has yet to implement this type of system.
Here’s how the program works: We would connect underutilized resources to underserved populations, enhancing the role of experienced paramedics to provide health services where access to physicians and clinics/hospitals is difficult. Community paramedics would provide their care under the auspices of their employing ambulance service and under supervision of a physician.
This flexibility allowed a similar program based in Fort Worth, Tex., to save taxpayers $640,000 per year in avoidable hospital visits.
Other health care reform initiatives are in the works, so please stay in touch with me along the way. You can reach me by e-mailing rep.tara.mack@house.mn.
CONGRATS, APPLE VALLEY WRESTLERS
Hats off to the Apple Valley Eagles for another phenomenal wrestling season, capped last week by their sixth consecutive big-school championship; this is our team’s 19th state title overall. I also want to congratulate Jordan Kingsley, Dakota Trom, Mark Hall, Matt Kelliher, Brandon Kingsley, Destin McCauley and Jake Waste of Apple Valley for winning individual state championships. Nice work, Eagles!
Sincerely,
Tara
News Items
- April 6 Legislative Update - (Posted: 2012-04-06 00:00:00)
- March 30 Legislative Update - (Posted: 2012-03-30 00:00:00)
- March 23 Legislative Update - (Posted: 2012-03-23 00:00:00)
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