Public Policy Issues Archive (5.02.05)

This legislative update published May 2, 2005

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."

--Vincent Van Gogh

1. Shelter Funding for Victims of Family Violence
2. Legislature to Adjourn May 23
3. Strangulation Bill Moves Forward
4. School Bullying Bill Advances
5. Crime Victim Protection Against Employer Retaliation
6. Congress Deciding Health Care Budget for Minnesota - Act Now!
7. Update on $200 MFIP Housing Penalty
8. Conceal and Carry Update
9. Many Voices, One Minnesota: A Massed Choir for the Common Good
10. Contact Us

1. Shelter Funding for Victims of Family Violence
After nearly six hours of debate, the House Public Safety bill passed along strict party lines the governor's original proposal for an increase of $532,000 for crime victim funds and no additional funding for family violence shelters. Crime victim dollars fund life-saving legal services for victims of abuse. The Senate Public Safety bill-to be taken up by the full Senate early this week-includes the same increase for crime victim funds plus $1 million in additional funding for family violence shelters.

Funding in House Version. An amendment was offered by Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul) for an additional $250,000 per year for family violence shelter funding. The move was defeated by a vote of 67-66. One Republican, Rep. Bud Heidgerken (R-Freeport) voted for the amendment. One Democrat legislator was absent at the time of the vote.

Besides numerous funding appropriations the House Public Safety bill also included: life in prison for thousands of sex offenders, castration and special license plates for the most serious offenders who are released.

Funding in Senate Version. The Senate version of the Public Safety bill was the center of much debate last week. The bill originally proposed a one cent per drink increase in the alcohol tax. This would have raised approximately $52 million to increase funding for chemical dependency and mental health treatment in prisons, community corrections probation officers and family violence shelters. The tax was subsequently removed by the Senate Tax Committee. The bill was then re-worked to cut the additional $52 million. The Senate bill includes a crime victim funding increase of $532,000 and $1 million increase for family violence shelters. This omnibus bill will be taken up by the full Senate early this week.

The House version of the Public Safety bill was put forth by Rep. Steve Smith (R-Mound), and the Senate version was backed by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Minneapolis).

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2. Legislature to Adjourn May 23
Legislators are left with three weeks to complete work on the nearly $30 billion two-year budget and a variety of policy bills. The 2005 legislative session is officially scheduled to adjourn on Monday, May 23. However, few capitol watchers expect the legislature to end on time.

Both the House and Senate spent most of last week moving the large omnibus bills through their respective finance committees, discussing these bills on the floor, and taking votes. The process will continue this week as long floor sessions will likely be planned for nearly every day. The Senate will also release their version of the tax bill - their plan to raise revenues.

Conference committees are expected to be named by the end of this week, or early next week so that work can began to find compromises for final bills. Once large omnibus bills are passed by both bodies, the House and the Senate. 

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3. Strangulation Bill Moves Forward
A bill to toughen penalties for strangulation in family violence cases is moving forward in both the House and the Senate. The original bill called for making strangulation of a family or household member a felony. While the House reduced the crime to a gross misdemeanor, the Senate version remains a felony.

The House and Senate versions have been placed in each body's Public Safety omnibus bill. The differences between the two "strangulation measures" will be worked out through the conference committee process.

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4. School Bullying Bill Advances
A bill aimed at deterring school bullying has made its way through the house and the Senate. The bill will possibly be included in each body's omnibus Education Policy Bill.

The bill will create a model policy to prohibit bullying in schools to be adopted by School Boards throughout Minnesota. The bill also defines bullying and intimidation, and mandates that school policies outline expected behavior for students and appropriate consequences for bullying. Under this bill, school policies must require school personnel to report student intimidation or bullying incidents and allow anonymous reports.

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5. Crime Victim Protection Against Employer Retaliation
A bill to protect victims of abuse against retaliation by their employers was included in the House Public Safety omnibus bill. The bill would extend so victims could attend court proceedings. Currently, many survivors have to choose between going to court or keeping their job. The penalty would be a misdemeanor charge and would also open the door in civil court for victims to recover back pay.

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6. Congress Deciding Health Care Budget for Minnesota - Act Now!
U.S. House and Senate budget negotiators have not yet been able to come together to pass a final budget resolution. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN)) is one of only a few members of the Senate in a position to make changes to the budget resolution, expected to come up for a vote within days.

The key issue yet to be negotiated is Medicaid-dollars that fund state health care programs in Minnesota. The House budget resolution would make drastic cuts to Medicaid, while the Senate's Budget Resolution, thanks in part to Senator Coleman, included no cuts to Medicaid. However, there have been reports that a potential budget deal could be reached that could cut Medicaid by $10 billion, and the combined total amount of cuts to Medicaid and other programs such Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Care, and other key services could be as much as $17 billion. Keeping any cuts to Medicaid as low as possible may help to save other key human services from deeper cuts as well.

Around 580,000 Minnesotans, including children, parents, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities receive health care through Medicaid. Medicaid funds also support our public hospitals, community health centers, nursing homes, home- and community-based care providers, and the physicians and nurses who provide health care to Minnesota's vulnerable citizens.

Call 1-866-462-8739 as soon as possible and ask to be connected to Sen. Norm Coleman's (R-MN) office.

• Thank the Senator for his past efforts to protect Medicaid from cuts.
• Ask Senator Coleman to maintain his position of no cuts to Medicaid, and to vote NO on any budget resolution that includes cuts to Medicaid, TANF, and other programs for low-income Minnesotans.

The toll-free number listed above will connect you to the Senate switchboard. At times like this when key votes are near, the Capitol switchboard can hit its capacity, so please call back if you get a busy signal.

For more information on how federal budget decisions would impact Minnesota, visit www.mncn.org/bp/federalissues.htm.

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7. Update on $200 MFIP Housing Penalty
We recently published an action alert about the Minnesota House's proposal for a $200/month cut to families who participate in MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) and live in subsidized housing. The current Housing Penalty for these families is $50/month, and this increased penalty, known as the $200 Housing Penalty, is included in HF 1976.

We send a special thank you to those of you who contacted Representative Gunther about this provision. We've heard that Rep. Gunther received hundreds of calls opposing this and other provisions in the bill that would be harmful for families. Unfortunately, HF 1976 was still approved by the Minnesota House Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy & Finance Committee with the $200 Housing Penalty intact. The bill now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee.

On the Senate side, Sen. Linda Berglin's (DFL-Minneapolis) Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill eliminates penalties for families receiving MFIP.

Given the difference between the bills moving forward in the House and Senate, this issue is expected to be raised again when a conference committee is selected to iron out the differences between the House and Senate bills. We will contact you with updates and another request for action as this provision moves forward.

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8. Conceal and Carry Update
On Tuesday, April 12, the Minnesota Court of Appeals unanimously ruled to uphold a lower court decision that said the Legislature improperly passed what is commonly referred to as the "Conceal and Carry" handgun bill of 2003. After becoming law, the bill, which was attached to a natural resources bill in 2003 to force a full Senate vote, required local law enforcement to issue a permit to anyone over the age of 21 who had received training, had no criminal record, and no history of mental health problems. It also allows people to carry concealed guns on public property such as parks, ball fields, libraries, playgrounds, community centers, and workplaces.

Proponents of the bill have already taken steps to re-introduce the law. Sen. Pat Pariseau and Rep. Larry Howes have introduced bills (SF 2221/HF 2428) to re-enact the bill; with the committee deadlines past, however, proponents would have to either circumvent the rules, or attach their bill as an amendment to a larger bill in order to pass it this year. Having lost 11 pro-concealed carry incumbents in the 2004 elections, including chief author Lynda Boudreau, some lawmakers may be less eager to take the issue up this year.

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9. Many Voices, One Minnesota: A Massed Choir for the Common Good
Rally of faith to support a moral Minnesota state budget is taking place this Saturday, May 7. The Minnesota Council of Churches and Churches United in Ministry are sponsoring a gathering on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol to rally to support a moral Minnesota state budget and prevent cuts to childcare, healthcare and affordable housing.

Choirs from churches around the state are invited to be part of this important event, creating a massed choir to sing and support this important issue. To register, call Ms. Cindy Kennedy 612-230-3203 or go to www.mnchurches.org/commongood/massedchoir.html

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10. Contact Us
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.

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This Public Policy Update Published May 2, 2005.
Editor: Randy Schubring

Writers: Margaret Ostrander