Dear Friends,
MNsure is one of the biggest issues facing us at the legislature this session. I'm proud to be carrying House File 5 which adds more accountability to MNsure, and would ask the federal government for a waiver to let Minnesotans get the tax credits they are eligible for regardless of where they purchase their insurance.
As the Chair of the Health and Human Services Reform Committee, I'm looking forward to reviewing all of the proposals that come forward and finding the best way to make sure MNsure is delivering on the promises made to Minnesotans when it was passed.
I hope to see a bill passed that adds additional accountability to MNsure but also gives Minnesotans more choices and access to quality, affordable health insurance that works for their family.
Pay Increases for Commissioners
Yesterday, WCCO reported that Governor Dayton increased the salaries of his commissioners last month by more than $700,000.
The pay raises ranged from about $11,000 to more than $35,000, and come at a time when the Department of Human Services is laying off staff and asking the legislature for additional funding, and when the Department of Commerce is under investigation in response to misuse of more than $1 million in taxpayer funds by an organization who received funding from their department.
Most Minnesotans aren't seeing even small increases in their take-home pay, so I believe it's inappropriate to be increasing salaries by these large amounts when taxpayers are the ones footing the bill.
The legislature will likely look at ways to reverse a law passed under single-party control two years ago that allowed the Governor to raise these salaries without input from the legislature or the public.
Have a great weekend,
Tara Mack
State Representative, District 57A