Liberal in the Land of Conservative

o SF 3099 will develop a registration for Health Insurance Access Brokers. Any corporation selling insurance will be able to apply and act as an Access Broker. This will entail helping small businesses and individuals purchase health care insurance and set up Section 125 plans. MNCare enrollees above 200% of the FPG will be allowed to purchase the essential benefit set through this brokerage.

o SF 3099 establishes what is considered “affordable” for health care coverage. Health care costs consist of premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. For those individuals and families with incomes below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), the maximum amount of spending on health care costs would be on a sliding-scale basis, and would not exceed 7% of gross monthly household income.

o A subsidy program is also established to help employees whose health insurance costs exceed the established affordability standard.

o State funding would be provided for farmers applying to MNCare, pending federal approval which would reimburse state costs for this expense.

But even more interesting is that Tinklenberg, rather than tack towards Bachmann on the earmark question, is willing to take a pro-earmark position.

“She says she wants to look out for the people in her district, but if she’s not going to support our earmarks, we’re going to lose out,” said Kroll, who described himself as “not satisfied” with her position.

“If we get any (federal) money for the DeSoto Bridge, it’s got to be earmarked,” said Teresa Bohnen, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce president. Bohnen attended Thursday’s meeting with Bachmann.
“If (Bachmann) removes herself from the earmark process now, before there’s a better system in place, it seems like there’s going to be an opportunity cost to the district. We’re going to lose out on our own tax dollars. They’re going to go somewhere else.”

We have no intention of prosecuting Rush Limbaugh because lying through your teeth and being stupid isn't a crime.

LEO JENNINGS
spokesman for Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann, after the conservative radio talk-show host encouraged Ohio Republicans to take a Democratic ballot in the March 4 primary in what he calls "Operation Chaos"

I advocate repeal of sodomy laws and I support efforts to pass federal, state and local legislation to prevent hate crimes and employment discrimination. I will work tirelessly so that GLBT people are not denied custodial, adoptive or foster parenting options, workplace or housing opportunities, domestic partner benefits and equal marriage rights due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I oppose any efforts to use legal or constitutional means to discriminate against GLBT persons.

As a religious person, I am deeply troubled by the use of religion to justify discrimination, hatred or exclusion of GLBT people, including denial of dignity and civil rights. I have marched proudly with PFLAG families and will use my personal and public voice to encourage a culture of respect and a politics of equality and fairness.

First, when my wife Sara and I lived in Nicaragua for two years in the 1980s, we learned that many Nicaraguan women died as a result of illegal abortions. Criminalizing abortion doesn’t result in fewer abortions but it often results in needless trauma and death.

Second, I believe the number of abortions will drop as we empower and educate women, provide safe and affordable family planning options, reduce the costs of adoption and achieve greater justice in our economy.

Third, I believe the decision of whether or not to have an abortion lies with the mother and not with the state.

Fourth, I believe it is possible for groups who hold different views to find common ground on some aspects of this issue by focusing on policies that would result in fewer abortions. Examples include:

• The Bush administration’s refusal to fund United Nations’ family planning programs has resulted in millions of additional abortions worldwide. We need to restore those funds.
  
  
• The Republican Party’s “abstinence only” approach to sex education has resulted in many unwanted pregnancies and increased abortions. We need to fully fund broader sex education efforts.
  
  
• Economic insecurity is a significant factor for many women as they make reproductive choices. Achieving greater economic justice and providing quality health give families a realistic chance to adequately care for a child that may result from an unexpected pregnancy.

"All the cliches that you think about liberals and conservatives, THEY'RE TRUE! THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE!"

"When Nancy Pelosi took office, oil was being sold at $52 barrel. You know what it was this week? $98 per barrel. That's what happened with these phenomenal spike ups in spending."

Letter: DeSoto closure was a much gentler wake-up
By Rep. Larry Haws, District 15B

Published: March 26. 2008 12:30AM

The closing of the DeSoto Bridge is a second wake-up call. I say it's a very lucky second warning.

St. Cloud was saved by a state Department of Transportation inspection and our citizens will be well served by a newly adopted transportation plan that works, and here is why.

Minnesota has 12,736 bridges, and until the passing of this year's transportation bill, Minnesota had a stagnant and dangerous lack of transportation funding. The new plan invests $6.6 billion over 10 years in roads, bridges, highways and transit needs in outstate Minnesota and the Twin Cities.

During the next decade, the city of St. Cloud will receive $7,252,000, Stearns County will receive $32,629,000, Sherburne County will receive $12,883,000, and Benton County will receive $7,711,000 over and above what they would have received without this legislation.

Please also note that this legislation is a property tax relief measure.

Property taxes are the single largest source of transportation funding in our state, and we must reverse this trend. As a result of this new law, homeowner property tax burdens will be eased because cities and counties will be relieved of the burden of financing area road construction projects.

The new transportation plan is also about jobs, thousands of jobs, and had we done this last year we would have made a significant impact on today's economy. The most significant benefit of the transportation bill is safe transportation for our citizens as they travel our roads and cross our bridges.

The barriers across the DeSoto Bridge detour our travel and should clear our thoughts to the benefits of the 2008 transportation bill. I'm grateful for the gentler wake-up call.

• Introductory Remarks
• Terrorism/Civil Rights
• Health Care
• Global Warming
• Iraq
• Taxes
• Immigration
• Helping Minnesota
• Rule of Law
• "Gridlock"
• Michele Bachmann
• DFL Support
• Northwest/Delta Merger
• Unions
• Education
• Stem Cell Research
• "Mealy-Mouthed Democrats"
• Offshoring/Economy
• Candidate Q&A
• Closing Remarks
  

Cut all social programs for undocumented aliens

Strengthen and enforce illegal immigration laws, eliminate sanctuary cities, withhold state and federal aid and impose criminal penalties on government officials practicing sanctuary city policies, deter illegal entry by expanding the zero tolerance prosecution policy, control visa overstays, support adding a border fence, $10,000 penalty for a first offense of knowingly hiring an illegal alien, double thereafter

Create an enforceable employer verification system to check the legal status of employees

Require a fingerprint encoded identification card for all legal aliens.

With regard to law enforcement: form immigration enforcement effective partnerships with state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Evaluate non-citizen prisoners so illegal aliens may be deported at the end of their sentence. End the policy which allows illegal aliens to be released on bail while they await their initial court appearance. Expand the National Crime Information Center's immigration violators file to include aliens against whom a final order of removal has been issued, aliens who have signed voluntary departure agreements, aliens who have overstayed their authorized period of stay and aliens whose visas have been revoked

Deny federal funds to any entity that undermines federal law by assisting illegal aliens in any way and close financial loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to open US based bank accounts

Improve the legal immigration process. Replace the current visa lottery and chain migration with a merit-based system. Remove the pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.

Blood donation bill signed into law

State Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL – Mankato, and Rep. Patti Fritz, DFL – Faribault, joined Gov. Tim Pawlenty today as he signed into law new legislation that will allow 16 year olds in the state to donate blood with the consent of their parent or guardian.

The inspiration for the legislation came from Joe Gibson, a 16-year-old high school student from Blooming Prairie. Joe became involved in the issue after losing his grandfather to leukemia and subsequently trying to donate blood as a way to memorialize his grandfather’s passing. Joe – who was 15 at the time – was prevented from making a blood donation by a state law which restricts anyone under the age of 17 from doing so, even with parental consent.

In an effort to rectify this issue in state law, Joe met with Rep. Fritz to suggest that the minimum age for donation be reduced to 15 years. After Rep. Fritz heard concerns from some pediatricians that 15 might be too young, Joe – showing a keen ability to navigate the political process - agreed to raise the allowable age of donation to 16 in his proposal. Rep. Fritz then teamed with Sen. Sheran to shepherd companion bills through the House and Senate, eventually passing the bills unanimously through both bodies.

Under the new law, 16 year olds will now be able to donate blood, as long as the teen has the written permission of their parent or guardian and does not receive any compensation for the donation. The law will go into effect July 1, 2008.

“Through this process, I have learned that youth can make a difference,” Joe Gibson said. “I have also realized that there are really good people here at the Capitol and that our legislators are working really hard.”

The bill’s authors commended Joe’s efforts in support of the legislation, which Rep. Fritz described as “instrumental” to its passage.

“This bill is about how we listen to our constituents, young and old," said Rep. Fritz. “Joe Gibson is a thoughtful young man who not only wanted to help out his grandfather, but also saw the opportunity for other young adults to become eligible donors and help out blood centers. It is especially gratifying that it moved through both bodies and was signed into law so quickly."

Sen. Sheran added that she hoped Joe’s efforts would inspire more young people to engage in the political process.

“It was an absolute honor to work with Joe, who brought an incredible level of compassion, commitment and enthusiasm to this important issue,” said Sen. Sheran. “Allowing young adults to donate blood with their parent’s consent will help blood centers and emergency management organizations meet the current demand for lifesaving blood products and will foster a commitment to community service among high school students across the state. Joe’s hard work has truly made Minnesota a better place to live.”

The proposal received support from several organizations, including the American Red Cross, Memorial Blood Centers of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center. Several states, including California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico already have passed similar legislation.

State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark
208 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
E-mail: www.senate.mn/senatorclark
Phone: 651-296-6455
March 18, 2008

Budget shortfall highlights need for stable spending and revenue

Given the decline in Minnesota’s economy since 2002, it didn’t come as a surprise that the state’s budget deficit ballooned to $938 million this February.

In making those choices, we should set priorities and pursue strategies that take into account the immediate, along with the long-term effects, of budget decisions. We need to do more than just balance the budget; we need to help make Minnesota stronger and more prosperous.

Minnesota’s constitution requires the state’s budget to be balanced, which means that cuts in a number of areas will be needed to balance the budget before the Legislature adjourns.

The governor offered his proposals for balancing the budget. Some of them make sense, like closing tax loopholes on corporations with shell operations in foreign countries and cracking down on tax cheats. So, too, are administrative cuts in state agencies.

Other cuts are more troubling, like delaying a paltry 2 percent raise for nursing home workers for a year and shifting more higher education costs onto students and parents through higher tuition. In these cases, making cuts seem simple, but we should be aiming for something more difficult—but more profound: structurally lowering the costs of government services.

There’s no doubt about it, health care costs, especially in long-term care, such as nursing homes, are spiraling out of control. With both an aging population and increases in the number of people living with disabilities, projections are that the need for long-term care will triple by 2050.

Simply stated, this is a situation that cannot be managed by cuts here and there, we need to stick to a long-term strategy that addresses how needs of the elderly and disabled are met. That includes incentives for people to acquire long-term care insurance, developing a stronger system of at-home care, and a strong network of services that includes transportation, meals-on-wheels, help maintaining a home and so on.

That may sound like a lot, but it’s far less expensive than the $4,500+ monthly cost for nursing home care. That’s one way to meet the need at lower overall cost.

It won’t be easy to do. Add to that the need to ensure that the people who provide services are trained, qualified and property supervised, and it adds up to a monumental challenge for policymakers and stakeholders.

In higher education, the proposed cuts to public colleges, like SCSU and the university, are just cost shifts to students and parents through higher tuition. With tuition rising an average of 40 percent in Gov. Pawlenty’s first term, it hardly seems fair that students and parents should again bail state government out of a budget crisis.

This proposal is shortsighted. High tuition is a barrier to completing college. For those who do complete their education, soaring debt is a barrier to getting on with life. It hinders the ability to do the things that Americans expect to do as a birthright—purchase a home, start a family and save for retirement.

Making college affordable makes all those things less difficult and builds Minnesota’s ability to attract and keep quality jobs. Making college “harder” through high costs is false economy. It hinders income and purchasing power. It’s a drag on the state’s economy. It makes Minnesota less strong and less prosperous.

To build Minnesota’s strength and prosperity, we need to be doing more to encourage college and training after high school, not less.

This legislative session will end with the state’s budget balanced. But, at the same time, I hope we can work across the partisan divide to pursue those things that reform the way the state operates and builds strength and prosperity for our businesses, our economy and our people.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. PLAQUE HONORING MEXICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS.
A memorial plaque may be placed in the court of honor on the Capitol grounds to
recognize the valiant service of all Mexican-American veterans and veterans of all other nationalities, ethnic groups, and subgroups who have honorably and bravely served in the United States armed forces, during both peacetime and war, since the founding of this great nation. The plaque must be furnished by the AMVETS-Mexican American Post 5 and must be approved by the commissioner of veterans affairs and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board.
EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.