Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update on some important things happening at the Capitol.
Obamacare Mandates will take Money out of Minnesota Schools
Over the next three years, full compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could take more than $200 million out of Minnesota classrooms. This analysis comes from the nonpartisan Office of Minnesota Management and Budget who collected data from a cross-section of urban, suburban and rural school districts across the state.
Minnesota parents and taxpayers should be concerned that money designated toward education will be wasted by school districts forced to comply with the expensive, unfunded mandates of Obamacare. ACA requirements include covering more part time workers and costly penalties, and combined with rising health care costs could mean hundreds of millions out of our classrooms.
I support more Minnesotans being insured, but the high costs and negative impact that the ACA continues to have on our state shows the costs of Obamacare continue to outweigh the benefits.
Online Voter Registration
Last week a Ramsey County Court ruled that Secretary of State Mark Ritchie illegally set up an online voter registration system without legislative approval. Legislators on both sides of the aisle argued that Secretary Ritchie overstepped his authority, and I am glad that the court ruled in favor of the legislature, preserving our strong system of checks and balances.
Understanding the need to modernize our voting system, the legislature acted last week on a bipartisan basis to pass online voter registration. It was signed into law by Governor Dayton.
This law went through the legislative process ensuring an honest registration system that preserves the integrity of our elections.
I will continue to work on your behalf in St. Paul. If I can ever help you or your family on a matter of state government, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Chris