Dear Neighbor,
Here’s a rundown of the latest notes from the House, starting with a local issue I am working to resolve:
SAVE CARE CARLTON!
I am working to save a Carlton chemical dependency and substantive abuse treatment program for women after a proposal by Gov. Tim Walz has them shutting down by July 1.
Carlton’s Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise program provides inpatient services and a safe environment for women, including those suffering trauma from abusive relationships. The governor recently proposed closing two such programs, including Carlton’s, which is the only female-only program for Direct Care and Treatment in Minnesota.
The governor wants to close CARE Carlton and move its funding to other areas of mental health. That is shocking that because last year the state spent $71 billion – an increase of 40 percent – and this could have been handled then, when we had an $18 billion surplus.
As one of the state's only organizations of this kind that serves pregnant women, CARE Carlton is a vital local resource for women, including those who may have experienced physical or sexual abuse, in an all-female treatment setting. It would be unacceptable to lose these important services. We are working across the aisle toward a real, bipartisan solution to keep CARE Carlton open now and into the future.
Closing CARE Carlton would have consequences beyond a loss of services. A domino effect would impact hospitals and jails, leaving more people incarcerated with a shortage of beds for the services they need. This would be problematic for women who may be in a vulnerable situation, and it concerns me they could slip through the cracks in our system.
I recently visited CARE Carlton to discuss this issue with staff and take a closer look at its operation. It was good to do a walk-through and really get a look at this organization and the work they put in to help women in need. I appreciate the opportunity to meet with the staff at CARE Carlton and the input I received will help me in my efforts to keep it from closing.
This is an important local resource, with great staff at a facility that’s proven to work, and I’m doing all I can to build a common-sense, bipartisan solution.
GREATER MN AMBULANCE FUNDING
House Republicans this week hosted a press conference to advocate for increased funding for Emergency Medical Services in Minnesota to mitigate a $120 million shortage for this crucial essential service.
This shortage of funding threatens the stability of our emergency response system and ultimately puts the lives of Minnesotans at risk. The party in full control recently unveiled a plan to spend another half a billion dollars the next three years but only put $16 million toward the EMS crisis. By comparison, they are spending $730 million to renovate their own office building.
I’d say it’s time to get our priorities straight with more balance in St. Paul.
TAX DAY
Tax Day was this week. While the income tax obligations for most Minnesotans have now been met, people continue to feel the pain of increased everyday tax burdens.
Last year, the party in full control of the Capitol raised taxes on Minnesotans by $10 billion despite an $18 billion state surplus and continue to find new ways to take more money out of family budgets. Of the $10 billion in Democrat tax hikes, only $3 billion of it has gone into effect so brace yourself for more. For example, their new delivery tax takes effect in 11 weeks which will make everything brought to your door more expensive.
In just one year we went from a record surplus to a projected deficit thanks to Democrats' reckless spending spree. Minnesotans do not want their hard-earned tax dollars going to a $730 million palace for politicians. Government is no longer a good steward of Minnesotans' tax dollars under Democrat control.
Watch for more from the House soon as next week brings us into the final month of the legislative session. Have a good weekend and please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Jeff