Representative Bruce Vogel

Today on the floor, our Representatives took up the Democrats’ Health and Human Services (HHS) bill. Even with $3 billion in new taxes and fees, Democrats are cutting HHS by $150 million. Rural nursing homes and all hospital patients will be the hardest hit under this proposal.

Minnesota Legislature Repeals Sick Tax

The 2 percent “sick tax” is being eliminated through legislation Republicans led
to enactment in 2011 (H.F. 25). Minnesotans have paid this tax on medical care
the last 20 years. It hits low-income earners the hardest, adding to burdensome
health-care costs many people already struggle to afford. The repeal will take place
in stages until the tax is fully eliminated in 2019.

When it comes to funding education, Minnesota goes to the head of the class.

Nearly 2/3 of K-12 funding in Minnesota comes from the state, while only 29% comes
from local revenue.

In Minnesota, the state funds 65% of the cost of Education; the local share is 29%,
and the federal government’s share checks in at 6%.

A closer look reveals that our neighboring states have a much higher local taxpayer
burden. South Dakota funds 1/3 of the cost of schools. In North Dakota, that number
is 37%. In Wisconsin, it’s 44%; and in Iowa, the number climbs to 46%.

In South Dakota, 51% of the cost of K-12 Education is picked up by local governments.

Veterans Tax Credit Suffers Dayton Veto

In 2012, Republicans made an effort to partner with Governor Dayton on reducing
unemployment among veterans. The Minnesota National Guard reported that 22 percent
of veterans returning from Kuwait are unemployed, a number everyone agrees is way
too high.

The Republican Legislature passed two bills to create a Veterans Jobs Tax Credit
in Minnesota, similar to what is offered at the federal level. Governor Dayton
vetoed both bills.

Safe Harbors Treat Child Victims of Prostitution as Victims, Not Criminals

The average age of a girl’s entry into prostitution/sex trafficking is 12 to 14
years old. In the month of August 2010 alone, 124 girls were sole on the Internet
– a 55% increase since February 2010. In 2011, the Minnesota Legislature approved
and Governor Dayton signed into law the Minnesota Safe Harbors Act. Prior to this
law, Minnesota defined children engaged in prostitution as both sex trafficking
victims and juvenile delinquents. The new law defines a juvenile committing a prostitution offense under the age of 16 as a sexually exploited youth in need of protection or services, not a criminal. The new law also included the definition of sexually
exploited youth in Minnesota’s child protection code, created a mandatory first-time
diversion for any 16 or 17 year old who has been exploited in prostitution, and
increased penalties on adult patrons or “johns.”