May 29, 2003 -- NEWS RELEASE -- State Representative Al Juhnke
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn
281 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
651/296-6206
3951 Horizon Hills Circle, Willmar, MN 56201
320/235-4442
JUHNKE: RTC PLAN WINS OK, BUT BILL SLASHES SOCIAL SERVICES STATEWIDE
Legislation that helps ensure continued use of Willmar's Regional Treatment Center won approval in the House of Representatives Thursday, but it came as part of a larger bill that slashes funding to
nursing homes, senior programs and other health programs, according to Rep. Al Juhnke.
"I'm naturally pleased that the RTC proposal Sen. Dean Johnson and I worked on has passed," Juhnke, of Willmar, said. "But overall, this is a very harmful and hurtful bill for senior citizens and
for Minnesota families that can't afford health care or other social services."
The Juhnke-Johnson proposal provides guidelines to the Department of Human Services that they must follow as they consider changes to the mental health care safety net that the state provides to its residents.
"This should give comfort to both patients and employees that services will be available and jobs will be provided in West-Central Minnesota," Juhnke said. "Hopefully, this will establish a better
working relationship among the Legislature, the department and the community."
Despite that success, the overall health and human services budget contains a host of cuts - and a significant tax increase - that will be very damaging and painful to all Minnesotans, Juhnke said.
The bill cuts $100 million from nursing home funding, reduces support for child care and childrens' health insurance, and cuts but doesn't eliminate state funding for the Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents and Meals on Wheels programs. In addition, it raises the rate of the "sick tax" on health-care costs from 1.5% to 2% effective January 1. That tax supports the MinnesotaCare insurance program for working families whose employers do not offer health benefits. Juhnke noted that three Republican lawmakers - all from rural areas - voted against the bill that their leadership put together.
"The Republicans are essentially balancing the budget on the backs of seniors, kids and hard-working parents," Juhnke said. "They aren't the people who created this deficit."
