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State Representative Chris Swedzinski
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5374
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
SESSION UPDATE
Chris’ Capitol Connection
This week has certainly been busy as well. The budget bill from the Jobs and Economic Development Committee as well as budget bills from State Government Finance and Health and Human Services Finance Committees were passed on the House floor this week.
Jobs and Economic Development:
This bill uses a $60 million transfer from the Douglas Johnson Fund and a $13 million transfer from Unemployment Insurance contingent account to fund jobs and economic development priorities.
Increases Competition for Grants and Reform
Creates and funds Youth Workforce Development Competitive Grant Program. Grant program is a pilot project that if successful can be applied to future pass through grants for business development and adult services.
• In FY2010, Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA) found the Legislature appropriated $7.7 million to specific grant recipients for individual programs rather than allow a competitive grant process that determines whether the programs is the best value for the state. This pilot project will put the competitive grant process recommendation into practice.
• Requires increased accountability from DEED to monitor grant programs and services funded by legislative appropriations.
Protects Most Vulnerable
• No cuts for housing for the mentally ill and family homeless prevention; funds the Challenge Program with enough money to receive the federal match; and made minimal reductions to Minnesota Housing Trust Fund.
• Increases funding for State Services for the Blind and Rehabilitation Services to levy the maximum federal match.
A copy of the bill summary can be found here: http://goo.gl/LazAh
State Government Finance:
The bill implements sweeping reform initiatives designed to reduce costs, improve service delivery, and transform government for the 21st century. Individually and as a package, the reforms offered by House Republicans promote fiscal stability, innovation and aims to modernize state services. A few provisions in the bill include:
• 15 x 15 Initiative (15% reduction of state workforce by 2015)
• State employee pay freeze for two years
• Sunset Commission to review and retire unnecessary state activities and spending, identify opportunities for innovation and drive continued reform.
• Zero based budgeting principles
• Utilizes Tax analytics and business intelligence to make revenue collection more efficient, effective and fair.
Health and Human Services: Both the state and the federal government have a long history of denying reality and spending more than taxpayers can afford. Unlike previous legislatures, this bill leaves the status quo behind, leveraging innovation and reform to make our HHS system accountable, responsible and sustainable.
A copy of the bill summary can be found here: http://goo.gl/C2ygQ
Information about each omnibus bill can be found here (click on the link and find the bill you are looking for on the left hand column): http://goo.gl/R3bHz
Governor Dayton also declared a state of emergency for several counties in Minnesota. Please check out this website for more information: http://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/pressreleasedetail.jsp?id=10399
Flooding information from MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management: http://www.hsem.state.mn.us/eoc/2011flood/index.asp
Check out this video about the budget bills we just passed last week. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol7gyOnM8Uo
I always appreciate your input. If you could please fill out this online survey, if you haven’t already, I would greatly appreciate your feedback. www.surveymonkey.com/21Asurvey
As always I am here to help. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with questions or concerns.
Best,
Chris
News Items
- News from Representative Swedzinski - Memorial Day - (Posted: 2012-05-25 00:00:00)
- News from Representative Swedzinski - (Posted: 2012-04-20 00:00:00)
- News from Representative Swedzinski - (Posted: 2012-04-13 00:00:00)
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