|
Senator Tarryl Clark
 Date: April 25, 2008
Health care taxes and premiums should stay in health care
In a Survey USA poll conducted last week for KSTP-TV, 84 percent of Minnesotans said that funds collected from health care taxes and Minnesota health insurance premiums should not be used for purposes other than health care. Given the obvious logic of that statement, the results are hardly surprising. Yet, Gov. Pawlenty is still clinging to the idea that the health care tax and premium fund should be raided to fill holes in other parts of the budget.
Originally, the governor proposed taking out a quarter billion dollars from the fund to help balance the state’s budget. This week, he proposed reducing that to $125 million, to be offset by another $125 million in cuts to health care coverage from other parts of the state budget. While it’s good that he’s willing to make movement on the health care fund, he contradicts its purpose by reducing health care coverage. It would be a far better idea to find savings from cutting administrative costs and overhead in the health care system instead.
At a time when more and more people are faced with reduction or complete loss of health care coverage, health care funds should be used to help pay doctors and hospitals for the care they provide to the uninsured and underinsured. We need to cut costs, and the first and best place is to start with those parts of the health care system that are the least essential to the actual provision of diagnosis, treatment and care. Just cutting off patients from coverage doesn’t eliminate the need or the cost; it just shifts the expense onto the private health care system through higher insurance rates and bad debt for our clinics and hospitals.
Health care taxes have been set at 2 percent since Gov. Pawlenty and Republican legislators allowed a 25 percent increase in 2003 as a budget-balancing move. The funds are deposited in the Health Care Access Fund, which also collects money from premiums paid by MinnesotaCare policyholders.
When the governor proposes shifting funds from this account, he is also proposing shifting a portion of these premium dollars paid by working Minnesotans.
MinnesotaCare is not a welfare program. It’s a health insurance plan for working Minnesotans who cannot afford coverage on the private market. Every policyholder pays a premium based on their ability to pay, some over $300 per month. Diverting any of these funds for non-health care related expenses simply isn’t right.
When the health care fund was created in 1992, it was the promise of Republican and DFL legislators, along with the Republican governor, that the money in this account would be used exclusively to provide medical insurance coverage for working families.
That promise lasted until 2003, when Gov. Pawlenty helped create a surplus in the fund by allowing the tax to go up 25 percent, while canceling coverage for tens of thousands of policyholders. He then shifted money from the account to cover budget holes in other areas of the state budget.
This was an outrageous breach of faith, and needs to be set right. Both the House and the Senate have passed ways to balance the state’s budget without raiding the health care fund. The budget compromise ought to keep the promise made to taxpayers and policyholders and keep the Health Care Access Fund intact.
4-18-2008
NEWS RELEASE
HOUSE STRENGTHEN LAWS AGAINST REPEAT VIOLENT DOMESTIC ABUSERS
Hosch bill extends Restraining Orders, Orders of Protection against repeat offenders
ST. PAUL - Lawmakers passed legislation Thursday amending current law in order to significantly strengthen the rights and security of domestic abuse victims. The bill closes a loophole in existing law so that Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO) and Orders for Protection (OFP) filed against repeat violent domestic abusers can extend up to 50 years. Rep. Larry Hosch (DFL - St. Joseph), the author of the bill said this legislation is necessary not only to protect domestic abuse victims, but also help them move on with their lives.
"Domestic abusers often repeatedly terrorize their victims and the current law makes the victim re-apply for an order of protection or restraining order every two years. It isn’t fair, it isn't right," said Hosch. "If a violent attacker is repeatedly terrorizing someone, repeatedly breaking restraining orders, they deserve to have an order for protection filed against them stand indefinitely. This bill establishes that option in law."
Hosch said the law change is aimed at offenders who repeatedly break restraining orders to terrorize their victims. A judge can extend an OFP or HRO for 50 years against an offender if they have violated two or more OFP or HRO, or if a victim has filed two or more OFP or HRO against the attacker. Hosch said the law change is especially helpful for victims of repeat attackers whose OFP and HRO expire while their attacker is in jail or prison.
"It shouldn’t be up to the victim to keep tabs on when their attacker is being released from jail, they have been through more than enough," said Hosch. "Many victims are living in perpetual fear because of the ease in which their attacker can return. They deserve the peace of mind and security to know that their attacker is forbidden from contacting them again."
The bill passed with unanimous support from the House, and will now go to the Governor for his signature before becoming law. Hosch said he was grateful that several brave domestic abuse victims came forward to share their experience and need for this bill.
"It's not easy for a domestic abuse victim to talk about their experience," said Hosch. "It's their heart-breaking stories that drove this legislation and their efforts will significantly improve the lives of domestic abuse victims in the future."
If you have questions about the health care reform bill, contact Rep. Hosch at (651) 296-4373 or via e-mail at rep.larry.hosch@house.mn.
|
Representative Larry Haws
4-11-2008
Health Care Reform Bill Passes House
NEWS RELEASE
Vote: 83 to 50
St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a comprehensive Health Care Reform Bill (HF 3391) that establishes a plan to make Minnesota's health care system more efficient and affordable.
"Our health care system is curative, not preventive and therefore impossible to maintain in its current state," said State Representative Larry Haws. "Our goal is healthier Minnesotans and the Health Care Reform Bill we passed today will set in motion deep, systemic reforms to make health care more affordable and accessible to all Minnesotans."
The health care reforms in the bill coupled with 2007 reforms will provide health coverage to 133,000 people by 2011, cut the uninsured rate nearly in half, and extend affordable health coverage to all Minnesota residents. The Health Care Access Fund, originally designed to provide low-cost health care to Minnesotans, will be used to fund these reforms. Legislators, business leaders, labor unions, health care workers, the Department of Health, and the Governor's office worked together to develop this health care reform package.
"Every Minnesotan should be able to afford quality health care," said State Representative Larry Haws. "Currently, almost half a million Minnesotans are without health coverage. But it's not just people without insurance who are struggling; it's everyone else who is paying more and more each year. Health care cost is quickly becoming one of the main budget items for the average Minnesota family. Today, one million Minnesotans pay more than 10% of their income for health care and 250,000 Minnesotans with insurance are paying more than 25% of their income for health care. We've done the math – clearly something has to change, Minnesotans simply can't sustain or meet the rising cost of health care."
4-10-2008
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Brown Hall Science Renovation Bonding Project: A Real Keeper
To the Editor:
I am proud of all ten St. Cloud bonding projects that I carried legislation for this year but the Brown Hall science renovation at St. Cloud State University is nearest and dearest because it’s the most significant bonding bill in the bunch. The facts speak to why this particular project is such a keeper for our region and state:
Fact One: MnScu identified the Brown Hall science renovation project as the third priority in the state. This 14.8 million-renovation project is ranked so highly because it will deliver a most valued asset – an educated workforce for Minnesota and St. Cloud. The curriculum of this building will be applied to the needs of health care and nursing, positively impacting our area, St. Cloud, the state and our world with highly educated graduates.
Fact Two: By choosing to renovate an existing 75,000 square feet of a building, we will be saving $82,000 per year in off campus rental and leasing costs. These savings can now be used to fund other worthwhile education endeavors. Additionally, we are saving $1.2million of deferred maintenance projects that would have been necessary without this renovation project.
Fact Three: This well-developed bonding bill will train a workforce for tomorrow as well as put people to work right away. A lot of carpenters, bricklayers, and sheet metal workers are going to be needed to accomplish this project.
Last Fact…This is a great project because we made use of something we already have to build on. It's a solid choice to renovate rather than build anew or keep plugging in inefficient maintenance dollars. A fine example of keeping our financial wits about us; we are making effective use of tax dollars while delivering education facilities that will ensure a better future for Minnesota.
Who could ask for anything more?
Sincerely,
Larry Haws
|
