Case of Swine Flu Confirmed in Minnesota
Apr 30, 2009 News
I received the following from Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher today:
Many of you are aware that by mid-week approximately 100 confirmed human cases of the influenza A(H1N1) virus infections have been identified in the United States. One case has now been identified in Cold Springs, MN. This situation is highly fluid as details from many locations are emerging.
The fact that it seems to have sustained human-to-human spread is
concerning. The World Health Organization, the Center for Disease
Control and the State are monitoring this situation very closely and
have increased disease surveillance with local partners. Although the
overall severity of the disease appears to be less in the United States
than Mexico, there was a fatality resulting from it in Texas. The fact
that the virus is unpredictable and may mutate requires vigilance and a quick response. The State has been preparing for such an event for some time.
Our Statewide goals regarding this situation are to:
· Protect the health and safety of the state workforce
· Maximize workforce availability to maintain government services
· Minimize influenza spread and reduce the impact on public
health
We have a very dedicated workforce at the Minnesota House of
Representatives and we are at a particularly busy part of the session.
However, we all need to be vigilant about the seriousness of this flu
situation so that if we have symptoms we don’t inadvertently expose
others and cause it to spread. If you have any of the following
symptoms you should stay home, see a physician and advise your manager:
· Fever
· Flu-like symptoms, including headache, cough, difficulty
breathing, sore throat, body aches, chills, or fatigue
In addition the Center for Disease Control has an excellent website .
We will keep you informed as this situation develops.
House Takes Swift Budget Action
Apr 30, 2009 News
Over the past week, the Minnesota House has debated and passed most of the major budget bills that will help close our record budget shortfall and position Minnesota for short and long term economic recovery.
Altogether, our budget framework cuts spending by $1.6 billion in order to close our record $6.4 billion deficit, more than $100 million more in cuts than the Governor’s has proposed. However, the cuts in the House plan are more balanced to preserve jobs, health care, and education.
Our budget plan also recognizes that in these trying economic times, we mustn’t have businesses as usual. In every budget bill, we have
included innovative reforms and enhanced oversight to improve the
quality and efficiency of government.
All of the budget proposals, including the Governor’s, use new
revenue to balance the budget because Minnesotans expect basic programs and services like hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. The House plan includes the biggest tax reforms in 20 years, making our tax system fairer by closing corporate tax loopholes and rescinding tax breaks that disproportionately benefit upper income Minnesotans. On a vote of 130-2, the House bipartisanly rejected the Governor’s proposal to borrow $1.6 billion over the next twenty years to pay $1 billion of our current budget deficit.
I have included in the Snapshot below a summary of the major budget bills we have passed so far this session. Over the next several weeks, the House and Senate will meet in conference committees to reconcile differences between House and Senate bills. I will be serving on the House Higher Education Finance conference committee.
If you have questions about any of the major budget bills, please
contact me. I look forward to working toward a budget solution that will see our community and state through these trying times.
Week in Review Ending April 28, 2009
Apr 30, 2009 News
CAPITAL INVESTMENT/BONDING
A basic bread and butter jobs bills that focuses on paintbrush
ready projects around the state.
AGRICULTURE AND VETERANS FINANCE
Increases Veterans’ Affairs and Veterans’ Homes. Makes
strategic cuts to agriculture that saves jobs, preserves critical
programs and invests in biofuels and green jobs.
HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE
Caps tuition increases, targets scholarships for middle-class
students and provides child-care grants to help parents attend college.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY FINANCE
Funding for outdoors and environmental priorities. Retains jobs, improves accountability at agencies like the DNR and PCA and takes steps to keep toxic chemicals out of children’s products.
EARLY CHILDHOOD FINANCE
Makes critical investments in Minnesota’s future workforce by
closing the achievement gap, increasing child-care quality and ensuring all children are ready for kindergarten.
K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE
Provides steady funding for our schools, reduces mandates to
help districts save money and paves the way for significant funding
reform with the New Minnesota Miracle.
STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE
Provides adequate funding to avoid damaging layoffs in a
difficult economy.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
This is a jobs bill that also assists the unemployed and
retrains workers for skills that are in demand and provides critical
funding for affordable housing.
PUBLIC SAFETY FINANCE
The House does the best job of funding Minnesota’s courts and
preserving public safety. It prevents cuts to correctional officers
that could jeopardize safety.
TRANSPORTATION FINANCE
Maintains local road and bridge funding. Fully funds Greater
Minnesota and metro transit at a time when ridership levels are at
record levels.
TAXES
Most significant reform in 20 years. Increases fairness by replacing subsidies that benefit the wealthy and creates new 4th tier. Gives businesses competitive advantages, including R&D credit and tax
cuts for small businesses and farmers.
HEALTH CARE
Targeted spending cuts to help close the budget shortfall while
preserving adequate funding for rural hospitals, nursing homes and
health care for middle class Minnesotans. Continues down path of
long term health care reform to bring down cost of health care for Minnesota families.
Week in Review ending April 3, 2009
Apr 13, 2009 News
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
The Capital Investment Committee passed H.F. 855, the 2009 Capital Investment Bill, which provides $200 million in General Obligation bonding.
COMMERCE & LABOR
The Commerce Committee passed a bill (HF 1056-Howes) to assure that electricians, plumbers and other subcontractors get paid in a timely manner. It also passed the annual Workers’ Compensation Reform Bill (HF 1678-Nelson).
CULTURAL AND OUTDOOR RESOURCES
The Omnibus Finance Bill was presented on Wednesday. It cuts $12 million from the Historical Society, Arts Board, Amateur Sports Commission, Humanities Commission, and ethnic councils to contribute toward balancing the state budget.
EDUCATION — EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division heard a bill requiring the Departments of Human Services and Education to create an inventory of early childhood services.
EDUCATION — K-12 POLICY & OVERSIGHT
On a 13-9 roll-call vote, the K-12 Education Policy & Oversight Committee passed the “Safe Schools for All Bill” (HF 1198-Davnie).
EDUCATION — K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE
The committee heard a number of bills for possible inclusion in the forthcoming Omnibus K-12 Finance Budget Bill.
ENERGY
The Energy Committee passed its Omnibus Policy bill and its Omnibus Finance bill. The Policy bill (HF 863-Hilty) includes many different bills, including bills that: 1) encourage Xcel Energy’s interest in investing more in solar energy, 2) support the development of small, renewable energy projects, and 3) allow utilities to provide rebates to customers who install solar thermal facilities.
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FINANCE DIVISION
The committee heard a number of bills that carry requests for funding from the new Parks and Trails Fund and the Clean Water Fund, as well as funding for the Environment Bill.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES POLICY & OVERSIGHT
The Policy Committee finished off its work for the Session with many significant bills.
The Committee passed a bill (HF 1002– Murphy, E.) to create a new, high-tech nursing curriculum at the College of St. Catherine and the College of St. Scholastica.
Another bill (HF 504 – Kahn) passed by the Committee would establish a heart disease risk screening program for uninsured women.
The Committee also passed (HF 657 – Thissen) to create a critical access nursing home designation for very remote rural nursing homes.
Lastly, the Committee rejected a bill based on Article 6 of the Governor’s budget (HF 1571 – Abeler) that would have made significant changes to Minnesota’s county-based child welfare funding formula.
On Thursday, the Committee passed a huge Omnibus Continuing Care Policy Bill (HF 1760 – Thissen).
HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE
The Committee passed a bill (HF 8 – Simon) to implement important and highly cost-effective measures for preventing fraud and false claims in Minnesota’s Medicaid system.
PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY & OVERSIGHT
The Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee heard the Primary Seatbelt Bill [HF 108 – Norton] on Thursday. The Committee voted on a divided voice vote to remove the provisions in the bill related to data collection by law enforcement.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, REFORM, TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTIONS
The Committee and Local Government Division overwhelmingly passed HF 1849 (Nelson), the Omnibus Local Government Mandate Relief Bill.
The Committee also passed HF 1137 (Hilty), the Secretary of State’s Recount Bill. The bill addresses several issues in response to the US Senate recount. The bill: (1) lowers the threshold for triggering an administrative recount, (2) requires that candidates request all recounts in writing, and (3) clarifies the types of distinguishing marks that void a ballot.
Finally, HF 512 (Simon), the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, was defeated on a tie vote. The bill established a contract among states that, when triggered, would have used the Electoral College system to guarantee the presidential candidate winning the national popular vote would also win the Electoral College and the Presidency. Debate on the bill was covered by many media outlets, and the bill received bipartisan support and opposition.
TAXES & PROPERTY TAX DIVISION
This week, the Tax Committee heard a presentation of the Governor’s 21st Century Tax Commission. The Commission has proposed $1 billion in tax cuts for businesses, which it pays for with a $1 a pack cigarette tax increase and expansion of the sales tax base.
Property & Local Sales Tax Division:
The Property Tax Division released the Division Report on Monday. The center piece of the report was the new County Option Revenue Reform proposal. The reform initiative gives all counties the option of imposing a 1/2 cent sales tax, subject to a reverse referendum, rather than raising property taxes to recoup cuts in state aid proposed by the Governor. Counties choosing this revenue option would retain a portion of county aid, aid payments would be adjusted to equalize for varying sales tax capacity between the counties, and roughly 50% of new revenues would go to eliminate property tax increases that would occur under the Governor’s proposal. The bill contains cuts to LGA, CPA and the MVHS program, but it also beefs up the Property Tax Refund program, and provides more accountability, efficiency and transparency for property tax payers and local units of government.
The Snapshot is a weekly edition to the blog. It is intended to provide constituents with a glimpse of major pieces of legislation or legislative activity that was discussed in committee(s) during the previous week. For those of you that would like more in-depth coverage of information you can refer to the House website.
