Mental Health Day on the Hill is Tuesday Feb. 14th! Click here for more information.
Click to be Directed to News from The National Rehabilitation Association
Hello MRA Members,
After the whirlwind of this special legislative session and statewide shutdown, Minnesota welcomes back its state workers, as well as other organization shuttered during the shutdown. All over the state, disability advocates came together to urge lawmakers to complete the budget swiftly and fairly; ensuring the continuation and funding of programs that the disability community depends on.
Governor Dayton and GOP leaders agreed to solve the state's two-year $5 billion budget deficit through a combination of budget cuts, delaying payments to school districts and borrowing against the state's future tobacco settlement payments.
The signed Jobs and Economic Development bill approves total funding of $170 million, cutting the governor's proposal by $1.5 million and increasing the conference committee bill by $16 million. You can access the full special session bills here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/ss2011/ and the Jobs Appropriations can be seen here: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/2011_first_special_session_bills/11-3649sum.pdf
Highlights of the Jobs and Economic Development bill are below.
JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• Total state funding: $170 million
• How it compares to conference committee bill: $16 million increase
• How it compares to governor's proposal: $1.5 million less Minnesota Trade Office: Cut of $158,000 instead of the $3.1 million cut proposed in the conference committee bill. The GOP had wanted to eliminate it, but restored funding as part of the framework agreement.
• Minnesota Investment Fund: Cut of $3 million
• Job skills program: $442,000 cut - less than half the cut proposed in conference committee bill. Other cuts to workforce programs for the disabled.
• Business and community development: $376,000 cut, about 18 percent less than in conference committee bill. Also, cuts in aid to entrepreneurs and small business, rural policy and development and similar funds, some of which help small and midsized businesses.
Thank you MRA Members for your continued advocacy for persons with disabilities.
Jessica Flack
MRA GA Chair
Click here to Download NRA 2011 Issue Statements
You can learn more about your Legislators by checking out the House and Senate web pages. Both sites have information about them that includes Bills that they have authored and co-authored, a picture, and a brief bio. Here are the web pages:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/
If you don't know who your State Legislators are go to: http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
to find out which district you live in.