Rachel Stassen Berger’s PiPress blog describes who gets hit by the biggest line item veto:
“In signing the Health and Human Services bill the Legislature sent him, he slashed $381 million in funding for General Assistance Medical Care, a health insurance program for adult Minnesotans who don’t have health insurance but may not be eligible or may not yet be approved for other subsidized health care programs.
“Health insurance through GAMC is only available to folks who make $650 a month, about $7,800 a year, or less. Many covered under GAMC are homeless. .. (Worth noting: Pawlenty cut the program’s funding only in 2011, which gives the Legislature next year to work with him on finding funding.)
The unallotment strategy means that the governor will sign budget bills sent to him by the legislature, but will use his line item veto to cut parts of these bills. The line item veto alone will not balance the budget.
So, after July 1, the governor will use his unallotment power to make further cuts in state spending. He can exercise this power unilaterally, without any legislative input. He has not indicated where the further cuts — perhaps as much as three billion dollars — will be made.
Politics in Minnesota reports that almost everything is on the table, with T-Paw saying that “final decisions have not been made regarding possible impacts to state programs, but areas could include government-subsidized health care programs, welfare, and other social services; K-12 and higher education; and local government aid.”
“At this point, DFL lawmakers have only a few options,” Minnesota Public Radio reported. “They can negotiate with the governor and reach a budget deal, or, if they don’t reach a deal, they can let him unallot or they can try to override his veto of a $1 billion tax bill.”
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich’s angry response to the governor’s message, included these comments: “If the governor goes it alone and has it his way, 113,000 Minnesotans will lose health insurance. Sixteen thousand Minnesotans will lose their jobs, and there will be cuts in education and higher tuition.”
Reprinted, with some modifications, from the Twin Cities Daily Planet website, www.tcdailyplanet.net
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Rachel Stassen Berger’s PiPress blog describes who gets hit by the biggest line item veto:
“In signing the Health and Human Services bill the Legislature sent him, he slashed $381 million in funding for General Assistance Medical Care, a health insurance program for adult Minnesotans who don’t have health insurance but may not be eligible or may not yet be approved for other subsidized health care programs.
“Health insurance through GAMC is only available to folks who make $650 a month, about $7,800 a year, or less. Many covered under GAMC are homeless. .. (Worth noting: Pawlenty cut the program’s funding only in 2011, which gives the Legislature next year to work with him on finding funding.)
The unallotment strategy means that the governor will sign budget bills sent to him by the legislature, but will use his line item veto to cut parts of these bills. The line item veto alone will not balance the budget.
So, after July 1, the governor will use his unallotment power to make further cuts in state spending. He can exercise this power unilaterally, without any legislative input. He has not indicated where the further cuts — perhaps as much as three billion dollars — will be made.
Politics in Minnesota reports that almost everything is on the table, with T-Paw saying that “final decisions have not been made regarding possible impacts to state programs, but areas could include government-subsidized health care programs, welfare, and other social services; K-12 and higher education; and local government aid.”
“At this point, DFL lawmakers have only a few options,” Minnesota Public Radio reported. “They can negotiate with the governor and reach a budget deal, or, if they don’t reach a deal, they can let him unallot or they can try to override his veto of a $1 billion tax bill.”
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich’s angry response to the governor’s message, included these comments: “If the governor goes it alone and has it his way, 113,000 Minnesotans will lose health insurance. Sixteen thousand Minnesotans will lose their jobs, and there will be cuts in education and higher tuition.”
Reprinted, with some modifications, from the Twin Cities Daily Planet website, www.tcdailyplanet.net