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State Representative Rena Moran
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5158
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
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GOP IMPOSES BEG-BORROW-AND-STEAL BUDGET
(ST. PAUL) — The Minnesota Legislature met in a Special Session on July 19 to pass the budget agreement reached by Governor Dayton and the Republican majority. The broad agreement was based on a past offer from Republicans that included $1.4 billion in revenue: $700 million from increasing the school shift and $700 million in appropriation bonds backed by future tobacco settlement money.
State Representative Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul) said she was disappointed in the final budget agreement.
“This Republican budget will set our state back by begging, borrowing, and stealing to close the budget gap on the backs of middle class families," Rep. Moran said. “I appreciate Governor Dayton’s hard work to end the shutdown, compromise and get people back to work. He has been a statesman and risen above politics and partisanship to do the best thing he could for Minnesotans. However, I simply could not support a Republican budget that steals from our children, and borrows against our future instead of making millionaires pay their fair share in taxes.”
The K-12 Education Finance bill contained an increase in the school shift of $700 million. The bill also contained Rep. Moran’s provision allowing full-service school zones; these allow districts to create zones providing transportation to schools for students who would otherwise not be eligible for transportation, but she voted against the final bill.
“The Republican budget borrows an additional $700 million from Minnesota school districts– essentially mortgaging our children’s future to balance our current deficit,” Rep. Moran said. “We’re now stealing $2.3 billion total from our school children — with no way to pay it back. Using our schools as a piggy bank forces them to engage in short term borrowing themselves, which takes needed funds away from Minnesota classrooms.”
The compromise version of the Health and Human Services bill saved Minnesotans from being thrown off their health care, but still contains deep cuts, especially for children. The bill cuts child care funding by over $26 million, including direct cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program, and cuts Children and Community Services Act grants by $22 million.
“Despite protecting Minnesotans from losing health care, the compromise still hurts our children,” Rep. Moran said. “These are deep cuts to a program that helps low-income families afford child care while parents are working, searching for employment or pursuing education that would lead them to a good job. Cuts to Children and Community Services grants are incredibly painful for children suffering from dependency, abuse, neglect, poverty and disabilities. We’re squeezing the life out of programs that children and families desperately rely on.”
The compromise version of the Public Safety and Judiciary Finance bill contained smaller cuts than the conference committee report passed by Republicans, but was still marked by tough cuts to domestic violence prevention programs, abuse shelters, battered women services, victims of child sex abuse, at-risk youth, and sexual assault victims.
“These are some of the most vulnerable people in our state and I can’t support cutting programs that could help protect them and improve their lives,” Rep. Moran said.
“Overall, Minnesota loses with this budget. In 2 years we will face another massive deficit while in the meantime middle-class families will pay more and get less. My priority will continue to be working to build a prosperous Minnesota where all of us have the opportunity to succeed, not just the wealthy few. We will be a stronger Minnesota when we confront our challenges head on, invest in a world class education system, and put the interest of middle-class, working class Minnesotans first.”
News Items
- Rep. Moran: GOP Tax Bill Chooses Corporation Over Those on Fixed Incomes - (Posted: 2012-03-22 00:00:00)
- Rep. Moran: Passage of Voter ID Amendment Shameful - (Posted: 2012-03-21 00:00:00)
- Passage of Gun Bill is Reckless, Unnecessary - (Posted: 2012-02-29 00:00:00)
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