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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Eric Lucero (R)

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Beginning Steps of Obamacare Repeal Passes US House

Friday, May 5, 2017

Dear Neighbor,


We went from snow at the beginning of the week on the first of May to a very nice day today on the cusp of entering the weekend!!  Snow or shine, my colleague Republicans and I have been working hard all week at the Capitol negotiating budget bills to fund state government for the next two years.

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Rep. Lucero joined by Rep. Jerry Hertaus meeting students visiting the Capitol from
Salem Lutheran School who live in Hanover, Greenfield, and surrounding areas.

 

OBAMACARE REPEAL

Each year since its inception, Obamacare has increasingly ensnared hardworking families and businesses with financial hardship and devastation by causing year-over-year skyrocketing deductibles and premium increases and at the same time causing a reduction or elimination of quality health care options.  The US House of Representatives this week successfully passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) as the beginning steps of repealing and replacing Obamacare.  Much work is still required at both the national and state levels to continue long needed health care reforms with the goal of achieving free-market health care solutions that will drive prices down and significantly improve quality in health care delivery.  The next step for the AHCA bill is successful passage by the US Senate.

The Republican American Health Care Act will abolish over $1 trillion in taxes imposed on the American people in 2010 by President Obama and Democrat controlled Congress as part of Obamacare.  The AHCA will cut the following taxes:

  • Abolishes the Obamacare Individual Mandate Tax which hits 8 million Americans each year.
  • Abolishes the Obamacare Employer Mandate Tax. Together with repeal of the Individual Mandate Tax repeal this is a $270 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes Obamacare’s Medicine Cabinet Tax which hits 20 million Americans with Health Savings Accounts and 30 million Americans with Flexible Spending Accounts. This is a $6 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes Obamacare’s Flexible Spending Account tax on 30 million Americans. This is a $20 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes Obamacare’s Chronic Care Tax on 10 million Americans with high out of pocket medical expenses. This is a $126 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes Obamacare’s HSA withdrawal tax. This is a $100 million tax cut.
  • Abolishes Obamacare’s 10% excise tax on small businesses with indoor tanning services. This is a $600 million tax cut.
  • Abolishes the Obamacare health insurance tax. This is a $145 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes the Obamacare 3.8% surtax on investment income. This is a $172 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes the Obamacare medical device tax. This is a $20 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes the Obamacare tax on prescription medicine. This is a $28 billion tax cut.
  • Abolishes the Obamacare tax on retiree prescription drug coverage. This is a $2 billion tax cut.

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Rep. Lucero with former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, also in attendance at the
Minnesota Family Council dinner event Monday evening.

 

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

It is currently against MN law to be the person to commit the act of performing female genital mutilation. However, MN law is currently silent on punishment for parents or others who may allow / facilitate / force their daughters to undergo the barbaric procedure.  Rep. Mary Franson is chief author of HF 2621, a bill that seeks to ensure others such as parents will also be held accountable, and I'm a proud co-author of the bill. I am a member of the House Civil Law Committee and we heard HF 2621 in committee Wednesday morning.

Farhio Khalif, a Somali-American woman, testified in front of the committee sharing her very graphic testimony of how she became a victim of female genital mutilation when she was a young girl and she supports Rep. Franson's bill to help bring an end to the brutal practice.  Mrs. Khalif testified female genital mutilation occurs because of the belief by some that women exist merely for men's pleasure.  It is shocking and disgusting that some believe this.  In answering a question from Rep. Ilhan Omar (also of Somali background) Mrs. Khalif remarked: You and I both know this issue is hush-hush in our community...not discussed in our homes.

The tone and comments of some DFL members of the committee such as Rep. Omar during the bill hearing were VERY repugnant questioning Rep. Franson's motives for chief authoring the bill such as stating Rep. Franson was seeking media attention and comments also calling the bill window dressing.  This is a very important bill that must be passed!!
 

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Rep. Lucero visiting with several Executive Board Members of Minnesota Child Protection League
at their booth during the Minnesota Family Council dinner event Monday evening.

 

NEGOTIATIONS

With the constitutionally required deadline for the MN Legislature to adjourn by May 22 just over two weeks away, the hard work continues.  It is anticipated the Republican controlled legislature will have passed all funding bills and have them sent to Gov. Dayton by the middle to end of next week, long before the required deadline.

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Rep. Lucero among several MN House and Senate members, including Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer,
meeting Israeli Defense Force (IDF) officers Monday at the Capitol.

 

STAYING IN TOUCH

As always please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you may have that will assist me best represent you.  The best way to reach me is by email at Rep.Eric.Lucero@House.MN or by phone at 651-296-1534.

Have a great weekend!


Sincerely,
Eric Lucero

State Representative
District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton