The 2008 Minnesota Legislative session ended on time this year. In this series of short video stories, local Representative Larry Hosch gives his breakdown on the major accomplishments of the session.
"During the 2006 election we heard loud and
clear that Minnesotans wanted to see something done about rising health
care costs, struggling schools, and skyrocketing property taxes. We set
an agenda focused on these bread and butter issues and we have
delivered on each of them," said Hosch. "Minnesotans deserve better
schools, affordable health care, and reasonable property taxes, and
that is what this session has been all about
HOW DO YOU THINK THE 2008 MN LEGISLATIVE SESSION WENT?
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Hosch said it was important to come to
agreement on a deal that balanced the budget, but was equally important
to provide needed funding to schools and nursing homes. The budget bill
includes a balanced, $51 per-pupil increase in funding to every school
district in the state. It also provides an additional 2%
cost-of-living-adjustment increase to nursing homes. In total, nursing
homes will receive a 4% cost-of-living-adjustment increase next year.
"Our schools and nursing homes were among
the hardest hit last time we faced a budget deficit and they are still
struggling as a result," said Hosch. "I am glad we learned our lesson
and provided them the funding they desperately needed."
HOW DO YOU THINK THE 2008 MN LEGISLATIVE SESSION WENT?
Click Here to take 3 QUESTION (3 minute) survey
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*QUICKTIME *Phone
The health care reform bill was the second
passed by the legislature. Earlier this week the Governor vetoed a
similar health care reform bill, but the legislative leaders worked
with the Governor on a compromised bill. Hosch, who serves as
Vice-Chair of the Health Care Finance Committee, said the need for
health care reform was too important to give up after the Governor
vetoed the first health care reform bill.
"There is no greater issue requiring us to
rise above partisan politics than our current health care crisis," said
Hosch. "Last year we made progress, insuring 30,000 kids, and we
continued working year-round on a significant reform bill that changed
the way we do health care in Minnesota. We stayed committed this
session, reached common ground, and passed a health care bill that will
make health care more accessible and affordable for Minnesotans."
The health care reform bill adds 12,000
previously uninsured Minnesotans and sets an affordability scale so no
Minnesotan pays more than 8.8% of their income on health care premiums.
Along with health care reform, the legislature passed a property tax
relief bill that delivers permanent property tax relief to most
Minnesotans. The bill provides $60 in local property tax relief to
cities and counties and included inflationary increases to help local
cities and counties keep property taxes down in coming years. The bill
also expands direct property tax relief to homeowners who quality for
direct property tax refunds with a $25 million infusion into the
program.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE 2008 MN LEGISLATIVE SESSION WENT?
Click Here to take 3 QUESTION (3 minute) survey
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