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Public Policy Issues Archive (3.30.05) This legislative update published March 30, 2005
“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.” – Garrison Keillor
2. Health Care in Minnesota Faces Cuts 3. Marriage Amendment Strips Protection for Victims of Abuse 5. Early Childhood Development and Child Care 6. Contact Us
1. Act Today! Hearing Tomorrow for Child Support Reform An alternative to Sen. Thomas Neuville’s (R-Northfield) child support bill was passed by the Senate Family Law Subcommittee on March 29. Introduced by Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis), the bill SF 1900 does not contain a direct link between child support paid and parenting time. This bill also uses Task Force recommendations for the “income share” parts of the bill, including the estimated costs of raising children. “Income share” models take into account the both parents’ income when determining child support. This bill SF 1900 would bring much-needed child support reform to Minnesota, provide a more equitable “income shares” approach, and best serve victims of family violence involved in custody/child support battles with an abusive partner. A bill introduced earlier in the session by Sen. Thomas Neuville (R-Northfield), SF 630, also looks to change child support laws. The bill mirrors an “income share” approach used in Oregon. This bill also links child support amounts to the amount of parenting time given to the non-custodial parent. Several family violence prevention advocates oppose much of the language of the bill. These experts have pointed to problems with hooking parenting time and child support amounts together.
Governor Tim Pawlenty and some legislators are proposing cuts that will force as many as 41,000 workers to choose between going without health care coverage or “spending down” their assets to qualify for welfare. Including the 38,000 that lost their benefits under the 2003 cuts, a total of 79,000 lower income Minnesotans are now or will soon be uninsured. The Governor’s proposal includes:
Many people in Minnesota depend on MinnesotaCare for basic health insurance for themselves and their families. The program was designed for working families who don’t have access to affordable health care coverage through their employers. Unlike welfare programs, every MinnesotaCare family pays monthly premiums based on their income. Accessible, affordable health care is especially important for victims of abuse, with the estimated direct medical costs associated with intimate partner violence hovering at $88 million annually for Minnesota alone.
3. Marriage Amendment Strips Protection for Victims of Abuse Early this year, a bill HF 006 was introduced in the Minnesota House proposing an amendment to Minnesota’s Constitution defining marriage as only the union between one man and one woman. The first hearing for this bill took place in the Civil Law and Elections Committee on Friday, March 18, in Grand Rapids, MN. The committee voted 7-5 to support the proposed amendment. The bill then passed through the House Ways and Means Committee and was just recently passed by the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. On Tuesday, March 22, the proposed Minnesota amendment was changed to read "only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status similar to that of marriage." Several Representatives made a motion that the bill be sent back to the Civil Law and Elections Committee, since its language was significantly changed. The motion failed in a tie vote (14-14), and the Ways and Means Committee voted in support of moving the bill forward. On March 29 the Rules and Legislative Administration Committed recommended to pass the bill, as amended. A bill has been introduced in the House and the Senate that would make human trafficking illegal, including for forced labor or services. Sex trafficking, including forced prostitution, is also prohibited under the bill. Women who are trafficked may be subjected to sexual slavery and on-going violence at the hands of their traffickers. The bill would better equip local authorities to prosecute trafficking crimes, rather than solely relying on federal laws. In the House, the bill HF 1760 authored by Rep. Kathy Tinglestad (R-Andover), has been referred to the Civil Law and Elections Committee. The Senate version, SF1689 authored by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), has passed through the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee and moves onto the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hearing dates have not been set. 5. Early Childhood Development and Child Care According to the Minnesota Women’s Consortium Capitol Bulletin, data recently presented in a committee hearing showed that almost twice as many children in accredited child care centers were school-ready compared to their peers. In general, research has found that children from higher income families typically perform better than children from lower income families. Conversely, this study found children from lower income families who attended accredited child care centers performed at the same level as children from higher income families. This legislative update is produced by Tubman Family Alliance, a pioneer in family violence prevention nationwide. Tubman Family Alliance offers a full range of services for all community members—men, women, and children—with the aim of preventing and ending family violence. Get involved by volunteering at Tubman Family Alliance, or invite the Tubman Speaker’s Bureau to bring violence prevention outreach to your workplace, faith community, civic group or professional association. For further information on legislative issues and how you can help take action, contact Randy Schubring, Director of Public Affairs at Tubman Family Alliance at 651-770-8544/612-825-3333 or at grassroots@tubmanfamilyalliance.org.
This Public Policy Update Published March 30, 2005. Writers: Margaret Ostrander |
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