| Legislators address revenue issue in tax bill |
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| Wednesday, 13 May 2009 | |
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ECM Capitol reporter The DFL-controlled Minnesota Legislature Monday passed one of the biggest spending bills in state government, the health and human services funding bill. The legislation — the product of a Senate and House conference committee — spends about $9.6 billion over the next two years in general fund spending, about a $1 billion more than Gov. Tim Pawlenty recommends. It also taps into about $1.8 billion in one-time federal stimulus dollars — Republican critics warn of toppling off a cliff. Indeed, Republicans argued the double-digit budget increases of future spending cycles makes the human services spending untenable. It’s a matter of misplaced priorities, according to Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano. While Democrats laud the bill as avoiding the governor’s cuts that would have resulted in tens of thousands of Minnesotans losing coverage under state programs, they depicted the conference committee report in somber terms. “It’s not a pretty bill,” said House Health Care and Human Service Policy and Oversight Committee Chairman Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis. House Health Care and Human Services Finance Committee Chairman Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, said its overriding theme was protecting nursing homes and hospitals. In the area of long-term care, the legislation delays some nursing home payments and makes some $62 million in cuts to all non-nursing home long-term care providers. “This bill is a huge disappointment for people with disabilities and their families,” said Pat Mellenthin, Arc of Minnesota executive director. The legislation cuts the in service hospital rate by 1 percent. In the area of chemical and mental health, the bill proposes to restructure the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center by moving most of the people receiving treatment at the center into community placement programs. This is expected to save close to $10 million over the next several years. Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, served on the health and human services conference committee and signed the committee report. “I signed the thing believing the governor could sign this,” said Abeler of the conference committee report. “There are no poison pills in here.” House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said House Republicans aren’t 100 percent sure the governor will veto the bill. “I would think so,” he said. Others found the report wanting. Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said that policy changes in recent years concerning the sharing of private data between state agencies was sufficient alone to vote against the bill. The health and human services conference committee report passed the House on an 80-51 vote. Local lawmakers voting in favor included Abeler, Denise Dittrich, Melissa Hortman, Jerry Newton and Tom Tillberry. Voting against were Tom Hackbarth and Peggy Scott. The report passed the Senate later on a 47-18 vote. Local lawmakers voting in favor were Don Betzold, Satveer Chaudhary, Leo Foley and Rick Olseen. Voting against were Debbie Johnson and Mike Jungbauer. Unlike the governor’s proposal, the conference committee report keeps the health care access fund separate from the state general fund. Pawlenty proposes to merge that fund with the state general fund. |
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