Terri Bonoff

Senate Passes Health Care Budget
On April 27, the Minnesota Senate passed a Health and Human Services Budget Bill that reduces spending by over $700 million in the next biennium and nearly $1 billion in 2012-2013. The Senate was able to do this without cutting health care eligibility to individuals and children. The bill produces a savings of $104 million in 2010-2011 and $291 million in 2012-2013 through health care reform measures.

The Senate bill maintains the integrity of the Health Care Access Fund (HCAF). This was something I follow closely, as I think it is unacceptable to use this fund for non-health care related expenditures. The HCAF pays for MinnesotaCare, a state health care program for Minnesotans who pay a monthly premium that is based on a sliding fee scale. The HCAF is financed by a 2% tax on all hospitals and health care providers. Some have proposed raising this tax as a way to increase revenue. I am opposed to this. The health care community has expressed great concern around how we have used this fund in the past as a tool to balance the budget. I will do all I can to keep that from happening.

While state funds are scarce, federal recovery funds are used in the budget to augment child care assistance, increase funding to food shelves, improve quality in child care settings, invest in homeless youth programs, and support long-term homelessness- prevention programs.

Emergency Preparedness

As stories of the latest serious flu outbreak continue to make the news, a bill to update the state’s emergency preparedness plans was passed by the Senate on April 28. The measure was brought forward by the Minnesota Department of Health and pertains to a number of actions that must occur if there is a pandemic or natural disaster. These provisions include isolation and quarantine rules, procedures for mass medication dispensing, pharmacy prescribing and possession of legend drugs, and changes to the Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps.

The bill provides liability protections for those sites that act as a closed “Point of Dispensing” (POD). POD’s are public places that have been designated to dispense medications during an emergency to employees or members affiliated with the building such as schools or other public buildings. The final provision of the bill clarifies that the Commissioner of Health can modify requirements for drug labeling during emergencies. The proposed bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

BPA-free babies Bill Moves Ahead

On April 28, the Senate passed a measure that will prohibit Bisphenol-A from children’s products such as sippy cups and baby bottles. Bisphenol-A is a chemical used to harden plastics and has been shown in animal laboratory tests to act as a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen and can result in abnormalities of the male reproductive tract, heart disease, prostate cancer, miscarriages, and diabetes. My colleague, Senator Sandy Rummel(pictured above at right) authored this legislation, and I was happy to see it pass off the Senate floor.

BPA is one of the most studied chemicals on the market today. It has been phased-out of children’s products in Japan and Canada. Wal Mart and Toys R Us no longer carry BPA products. Debate on the floor focused on a recent ruling by the Federal Drug Administration that BPA does NOT pose a risk to human health. However, advocates of the bill pointed out that the FDA’s own scientific advisor admonished them for not doing a thorough review of all the available research.

There are two phase-out periods in the legislation. The first is January 1, 2010, when manufacturers and wholesalers can no longer sell children’s products with BPA. The second phase-out is January 1, 2011, when retailers can no longer sell these products. The bill passed with large bipartisan support.

Clean Water, Land and legacy Fund Bill Advances

The Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division recommended passing legislation that appropriates over $300 million in new funds for outdoor and environmental projects over the next two years. The funds originate from an additional 3/8ths of one percent in sales tax approved by voters in the 2008 Election with the passage of the Outdoor Heritage Amendment and are to be divided among outdoor habitat projects, cleanup of polluted lakes and rivers, and parks and trails.

The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. The bill includes 18 projects recommended by the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council, as well as a conservation partners small grant program, a major water protection and cleanup plan containing recommendations of the Clean Water Council, and a plan to significantly enhance state, metropolitan, and regional parks throughout Minnesota. A final component of the Legacy amendment funds, dedicated to cultural heritage and arts groups and projects, is expected to emerge from the Economic Development Budget Division next week.

In addition to appropriating funds, the bill establishes a new state website that will provide information to the public on projects that receive money from the dedicated sales tax revenue. The bill was approved on April 29 and sent to the Finance Committee.

Conference Committees

As we move into the next phase of the Legislative Session, Conference Committees are meeting to work out differences in legislation between the Senate and the House, so that this legislation can be presented to the Governor for his signature. I am participating in the E12 Education

Conference Committee as a sixth member, and I will use this opportunity to voice the many concerns of my constituents regarding potential cuts to education and the impact that these cuts could have on our schools. Please continue to offer your input on how best to handle this budget deficit we face. It is very valuable as my colleagues and I work to find solutions to our state’s budget problems.

I also want to thank the many people who have offered their thoughts and prayers as I deal with a family medical emergency that has required me to be absent from Senate business. I left MN unexpectedly mid-month to care for my son and was not able to return home until this past Wednesday. I appreciate the generosity of the MN Senate and the many people who have been so thoughtful and supportive during this time. In particular, I thank the Senate Education Chair, Senator LeRoy Stumpf, who has made a point of including me as an active member of the conference committee.

Have a great weekend,