Greetings,
More of the House majority’s omnibus spending proposal arrived on the House floor this week. Here’s a review.
DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL SECURITY TAX RELIEF CONTINUES
The House majority approved its omnibus taxes bill on Thursday. As reported last week, it would allow more – but not all – senior citizens in our state to receive Social Security tax relief. Under both the House and Senate proposals, both plans have implemented a phase out for single filers making less than $78,000 and married couples making less than $100,000, but the Senate bill allows for more income before the phase out ends. The final details will eventually be worked out in a joint House-Senate conference committee, and I’m hopeful the Senate plan will prevail.
REPUBLICAN PERSISTENCE INCREASES NURSING HOME FUNDING
In a recent update I also highlighted the paltry sum put forward by the House majority to address Minnesota’s nursing home crisis: $3.9 million. I do have some good news and bad news to report on this front. The good: due to House Republican persistence, Democrats have decided to add another $20 million to their nursing home budget for the next cycle. The bad news: $23.9 million still isn’t enough to make all of the staffing and bed availability problems in our nursing homes disappear.
HEALTH BILL DESTROYS EFFECTIVE REINSURANCE PROGRAM
After Obamacare changed the landscape in Minnesota’s individual health insurance market, Republicans worked hard to stabilize it and did so through the poplar, and effective, reinsurance plan. In the health finance bill approved by the House majority this week, they would change the guidelines and rules surrounding the individual market and remove funding for reinsurance. Reinsurance was put in place to fight skyrocketing health insurance premiums. As we know, without it premiums have jumped more than 30% from one year to the next.
LEGALIZED MARIJUANA BILL APPROVED
A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana use was approved in the Minnesota House this week. I have a number of concerns with the plan, including impaired driving, and how marijuana use will ultimately impact employees in the workplace. Employers have the right to determine a drug policy that best fits their operational, safety, and business culture needs - not a one-size-fits-all state mandated drug policy.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, I'm continuing to support constituent needs. Feel free to contact me anytime at rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-7808.
Have a good weekend,
Tim