ST. PAUL, MN—Despite bipartisan support to fix a 7 percent funding cut, and a $1.5 billion surplus, House Democrats voted Monday during a hearing of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Policy Committee to advance a bill (HF168, amended by a delete-all author's amendment) authored by Rep. Jennifer Schultz, DFL-Duluth, Chair of the House Long-Term Care Division, that would codify in state law a 7 percent cut for Disability Waiver Rate System rates that are the basis for payments for services provided to Minnesotans with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and those with other home and community-based care needs.
During debate on the bill, HHS Policy Chair Moran cut off questioning from House Republicans about the 7 percent cut, moving to a vote that advanced the bill back to the Ways and Means Committee.
"With a $1.5 billion surplus, it's unconscionable that Democrats would vote to solidify a cut for Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens," said Rep. Tony Albright, R-Prior Lake. "There is tremendous bipartisan support to fix this cut, and it makes no sense for Democrats to push a bill that goes in the exact opposite direction."
Last session, legislators passed a bipartisan fix to the 7 percent rate cut as part of the supplemental budget bill vetoed by former Governor Mark Dayton. During the same HHS Policy Committee hearing, legislators approved a bill (HF179) authored by Rep. Laurie Halverson, DFL-Eagan, with 13 Republican co-authors that would reverse the funding cut, similar to the language vetoed in 2018.
"Minnesotans rely on the critical services that are put in peril by these senseless cuts," added Rep. Albright. "House Republicans are committed to protecting our vulnerable citizens and ensuring we prioritize those with disabilities, rather than cutting their funding when our state has a budget surplus."
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