Greetings from the Capitol!
The Second Amendment, Gov. Dayton's speech and health insurance made news at the Capitol this week. Here is a look at what took place:
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
The Minnesota House Public Safety Committee spent most of this week debating a series of bills that address gun use in our state. Hundreds of concerned citizens from across the state descended on the Capitol to voice their concerns about the bills which they believe violate the Second Amendment. The bills included legislation requiring background checks for gun shows and private sales; limiting gun permit access for some Minnesotans; and a ban on “assault weapons.” Interestingly, there were no votes on the bills during the hearings. They were all set aside for the time being and I will keep you posted when/if they resurface this session.
STATE OF STATE ADDRESS
Dozens of business owners from throughout the state were special guests of House members as Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State Address this week. The business owners participated in a very productive roundtable discussion with House members prior to Dayton's speech. They shared a wide variety of thoughts and concerns regarding Minnesota's business climate. State officials indicate businesses small and large would pay $1.5 billion more in taxes in 2015 alone, a key sticking point for them in Gov. Dayton's budget proposal.
The governor started his speech by highlighting many of the good things which have transpired the last two years while he has been governor and Republicans had the majority. We have gained 72,000 jobs, our state’s bottom line is in better shape and the 2011 K-12 shift is fully paid off. I would have liked to hear more details about the innovative plans for our future, but there were no breakthrough initiatives unveiled, at least not in this week’s speech.
HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE
The Health Insurance Exchange bill this week received testimony in the Health and Human Services Policy Committee, on which I serve as Republican Lead. My main concern was to address the fact that nowhere in the bill does the exchange assure lower health care costs for individuals, lower costs throughout the health care system, an expansion of coverage for Minnesotans, or improved quality of health care — even though the exchange is costing our state hundreds of millions of dollars to build and operate.
The bill’s next stop is the Government Operations Committee. I will be sure to keep you updated as this proposal moves forward, as it is the single-largest change in our health-care system in 50 years.
Have a good weekend!
Tara