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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Kurt Daudt (R)

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News from Representative Daudt 04-04-2014

Friday, April 4, 2014
Dear Friends,
 
It was a rough week for the pocketbooks of hardworking taxpayers at the legislature. Democrats continued their spending spree, passing a 400+ page omnibus spending bill that spends more than $300 million in 2014-2015 and close to a billion dollars in 2016-2017, putting Minnesota on track for a future budget deficit.
 
There were provisions in this bill that enjoyed broad bipartisan support. One provision was the 5% Campaign, a widely-supported effort to give a funding increase to home and community-based caregivers who take care of Minnesotans with disabilities. This increase was long overdue and needed to help retain quality workers in this important industry.
 
Unfortunately Democrats insisted on playing politics, wrapping this provision in with dozens of wasteful spending items and a bailout for ObamaCare.
 
Republicans warned last session that the federal government may not provide all of the anticipated funding under the Affordable Care Act. Our concerns were swept aside, and Democrats fully embraced ObamaCare.
 
The results? Fewer choices and higher costs for health insurance. $150 million spent on a website that could still be more than a year away from being fully fixed. And now hundreds of millions of your tax dollars being spent to bail out Minnesota programs thanks to ObamaCare.
 
I offered an alternative that eliminated the ObamaCare bailout, and reduced wasteful spending in the Democrats' bill. Overall, the Republican plan would have saved taxpayers $72 million in 2014-2015, and more than $400 million in 2016-2017 compared to the Democrats' plan.
 
The Republican alternative also included:
  • Stronger penalties for sex offenders compared to the Democrats' bill
  • Funding to fix potholes on Minnesota roads
  • Increased funding for successful programs like Reading Corps, which have achieved real, measurable results.
Unfortunately, the Republican plan wasn't enough for Democrats. They didn't think it spent enough of your money. As a result, they voted down the Republican alternative in favor of their own. I'm proud to say that every single House Republican voted no on the Democrats' ObamaCare bailout and wasteful spending bill.
 
House Republicans will continue standing up for the pocketbooks of hardworking Minnesota taxpayers.
 
Senate Building Approved by Democrats
Today the House Rules committee voted to approve an alternative plan for the Democrats' proposed $90 million Senate Office Building. To stay below $90 million, the House Democrats' final plan has actually increased the square footage of the building and eliminated the public parking ramp from the project.
 
Minnesotans from all corners of the state have spoke out against this unnecessary waste of taxpayer money. Republicans have fought it every step of the way, urging Democrats to reconsider and work to find an alternative that doesn't involve a brand new building. Unfortunately, Democrats continued their pattern of putting self-service before public service. The Senate Building plan passed despite bipartisan opposition on a 14-13 vote. All House Republicans voted against this when it was included in tax bill in 2013, and all House Republicans opposed it in rules committee.
 
Have a great weekend,
 
Rep. Kurt Daudt