Dear Neighbors,
Health and Human Services cuts
House Republicans released their budget targets on Monday, giving us the clearest view yet of their intentions. One of the largest components is their plan to cut $600 million in base funding from the health and human services budget. This is just the latest in a sequence of events this session that makes Republican goals very clear.
In January, Republicans voted to allow for-profit insurers into the market.
In early March, Republicans voted to give $400 million to insurance companies with no guarantees of lower premiums for Minnesotans buying insurance in the individual market.
This week, Republicans announce their intention to cut $600 million in base funding from the HHS budget.
There’s more work to be done on addressing stability in the individual market, but we can only move in that direction when we put Minnesota’s families first.
Transportation funding
On Tuesday, Republicans announced their plan for funding transportation in the state. Again, it lacks sustainable funding and takes $450 million that could be used for schools and nursing homes. Republicans want $1.4 billion in corporate tax breaks and $450 million for transportation from the general fund; that’s $1.85 billion from our $1.6 billion surplus.
More environmental cuts
On top of major cuts being made at the federal level to programs designed to preserve safe drinking water and clean air, House Republicans are proposing millions of dollars of cuts to our state programs as well.
This is reckless budgeting that could have major negative impacts on our state. With so much uncertainty over what’s going to happen in the federal government and how that affects Minnesota, sensible budgeting and sound investments are of even greater importance.
Town Hall
All constituents are invited to a town hall I’m hosting with Sen. Jim Carlson on Saturday, April 1st, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to discuss health care issues. We’ll be joined by Sen. John Marty of Roseville and others in that field. Location details are below:
Metcalf Middle School Cafeteria: 2250 Diffley Rd, Burnsville, MN, 55337
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Sandra Masin
State Representative