Legislators returned from a weeklong holiday break and district work period to be greeted by protesters decrying proposed budget cuts to Health and Human Service programming. The budget targets announced by House and Senate leaders in late March would cut $150 million from current HHS spending while raising an additional $2 billion in revenues, much of that earmarked for education spending and property tax reform. Health care committees have begun crafting their budgets with these targets in mind, with final bills before the committees for votes before April 16.
Strongly supported by the MNAAP, the “MinneMinds” proposal continues to make progress through the legislature. Having cleared the policy committee hurdles in both bodies in March, education finance committees have begun assembling their finance packages. The MinneMinds bill was considered in the House on April 3, and is likely soon to be heard in the Senate.
