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We’re Not Going to Win 2010 by Default |
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Written by Jeff Johnson
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Monday, 25 January 2010 00:00 |
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It’s been wild listening to some prominent Democrats this past week who seem completely clueless as to the message behind the amazing Republican victory in Massachusetts. Some are arguing that their candidate was bad or that local issues mattered or that Obama hasn’t been liberal enough (or conservative enough). Martha Coakley, the Democrat who lost the seat, stated in her concession speech that she lost partly because people are “angry about our two wars and our inability to properly care for those who return home after fighting.” I suppose there is some anger out there about those issues, but that’s not the tenth of it. The citizens of Massachusetts and America are angry for a much, much bigger reason: Government is completely, utterly and infuriatingly out of control! People are angry over huge bailouts, sleazy congressional deal-making, massive deficits and a seeming belief that government should control nearly every sector of our economy. People are angry that their voices don’t seem to be heard and their opinions don’t seem to matter. |
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Paulsen, Kline, Bachmann Call for Equity for Minnesota in Health Reform Legislation |
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Written by Erik Paulsen
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Thursday, 14 January 2010 00:00 |
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Letter to House Speaker Asks for Remedy to Medicare/Medicaid Payment Inequities, Unfunded Mandates as Final Bill is Put Together FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : January 14, 2010
CONTACT: Luke Friedrich (952) 405-8510 / Andrew Foxwell (202) 225-2871 Washington, D.C. – As House and Senate negotiators continue their work on a final health care bill behind closed doors, U.S. Representatives Erik Paulsen, John Kline and Michele Bachmann sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today asking that payment inequities and unfunded mandates negatively affecting Minnesota be addressed in the bill. Under the current legislation, the future liabilities from the proposed Medicaid expansion are estimated to cost the state $2.1 billion over six years. Moreover, the states of Nebraska, Vermont and Louisiana are set to receive hundreds of millions dollars in federal subsidies for increased Medicaid costs, whereas Minnesota and other states will get no similar assistance. The letter also requests a remedy for Minnesota’s longstanding Medicare reimbursement inequities. The text of the letter is as follows: |
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Senate Health Care Update |
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Written by Erik Paulsen
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Monday, 04 January 2010 00:00 |
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Make no mistake - the Senate bill is a government takeover of health care brokered in backrooms and bursting with higher taxes, bigger bureaucracy, deeper Medicare cuts, and loose language that could allow taxpayer funding for abortions. The Senate bill raises taxes by $518 billion in nearly every corner of the health care system from individuals and employers to health care plans and medical devices.
In an effort to meet an artificial deadline this bill has come to look like a Christmas tree with goodies for Democrat holdouts. These include federal funding for Medicaid expansion in Nebraska, Vermont, and Louisiana and a way for Florida residents to be grandfathered out of the Medicare Advantage cuts.
Why doesn't Minnesota get treated the same way?? It was also just revealed that Chris Dodd's state will benefit from a cryptically awarded $100 million for a "Health Care Facility" at a public research university that contains the state's sole public academic medical and dental school. |
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Written by Jeff Johnson
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Thursday, 07 January 2010 00:00 |
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Happy New Year! The Hennepin County Board had its first meeting of the year this week, re-electing Mike Opat as our chairman and making various appointments to committees and boards throughout the county. I voted for Mike as chairman. Although I frequently disagree with him and believe the county is spending entirely too much money, the reality is that this board is going to elect a democrat as chairman and I am comfortable with that democrat being Mike. I believe he is fair and runs an efficient meeting. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 28 January 2010 17:12 |
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County Board Raises All Three County Tax Levies - One by 4.95%, One by 114% and One by 176% |
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Written by Jeff Johnson
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Monday, 21 December 2009 22:09 |
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The county board adjourned for the year last week by raising every property tax levy we have authority to raise. The general county operating levy was increased 4.95% (an additional $12.5 million over 2009). The county rail authority levy - used to fund light rail trains - was increased 114% (an additional $8 million over 2009). The county housing authority levy was increased 176% (an additional $2.3 million over 2009). Commissioner Randy Johnson and I voted against the budget that included the 4.95% levy increase. I was the only member to oppose the other two levy increases. |
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