Omnibus Bills, Fentanyl Support, Protecting Our Nursing Homes + More!

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March 31, 2023

Executive Summary

• Fentanyl Support

• Protecting Our Nursing Homes

• Transportation Tax Increases

Fentanyl Support

I wanted to provide an update on some important legislation related to our country's fentanyl crisis. This week a bill to increase criminal penalties for the illegal sale and illegal possession of fentanyl and requires law enforcement training on opioid overdose and patrol officers to carry an opioid antagonist received a hearing in the House Public Safety Finance and Policy. I am a coauthor of House File 615, which is the result of conversations with families, community leaders, law enforcement, and legislators.

Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Deaths due to opioids have skyrocketed in the past three years. In 2019 there were 427 opioid overdose deaths. That number grew to 685 deaths in 2020 and 924 in 2021. Of those deaths, synthetic opioids – including fentanyl – accounted for 560 lives lost in Minnesota in 2020 and 834 in 2021. 

In addition to increasing criminal penalties for possession and sales, this bill will also require law enforcement training on opioid overdoses and patrol officers to carry an opioid antagonist.

So many lives have been cut short as a result of the fentanyl crisis. I hope we can pass this bipartisan bill this session so we can prevent future tragedies from taking place. 

Protecting Our Nursing Homes

Yesterday, Republicans joined nursing home advocates at a press conference to support Minnesota's seniors. Our state is facing a serious nursing home crisis In the past year, 5 nursing homes have closed across the state for two main reasons: Their reimbursement rates paid by the state have not come close to keeping up with inflation and they are struggling to stay solvent. The rate of pay their employees receive is also set by the government and it is so low that workers are leaving for other jobs, which means they do not have enough employees to fully staff all of the beds they do have. If they cannot safely staff beds that are available, they are also losing revenue that could help them stay open.  This dual problem is forcing nursing homes to close, which means our most vulnerable senior citizens have no place to go. Those in seriously understaffed nursing homes are also not getting the level of care they need or deserve. The DFL Health and Human Services Omnibus bill is only proposing a $4 million increase in spending for nursing homes statewide, despite this crisis.  This small increase is shocking when we have a $17.5 billion surplus and many other programs are slated to get much higher increases.  It is unconscionable that the House DFL is proposing only $4 million for nursing homes when they are also proposing: $54 million for the Minnesota zoo;  $194 million for high speed rail between Minneapolis and Duluth; $15 million for the Science Museum; $44 million for a tax credit for film production; $49 million a tax credit for solar panels; $43.5 million for a tax credit for electric vehicles These are just a few examples of where we could find money to support nursing homes, which on the brink of disaster. There are some counties in Minnesota that only have one facility. Hospitals are full with patients that should be discharged to nursing homes, but either there are no available beds or there are not enough staff to keep all beds available. Unlike other facilities, nursing homes are the only other option besides a hospital that provide 24-hour nursing care that some patients require. As a Legislature, our job is to set priorities.  Everything that everyone wants to do cannot be done, even with an enormous surplus.  It's the Legislature's job to set the rates that nursing homes receive to hire and pay their staff, care for residents, and cover their bills. They need our help now.  House Republicans tried to suspend the rules and declare an “Urgency” yesterday, rather than waiting for limited funding to come out of an omnibus bill at the end of session. You can watch my speech during that debate here.  I’m grateful to all of the nursing home advocates who came to the Capitol yesterday!  I will continue pushing for more funding to support our seniors and care workers.

Transportation Tax Increases

With Minnesota's historic $17.5 billion surplus, we should be focused this session on returning it to our families who continue to face higher prices for gas, groceries, and energy bills. Unfortunately, there are countless proposals for tax increases included in the omnibus bills. These are just some of the proposed tax increase in the Transportation omnibus bill:

• 3/4 Cent Metro Area Sales Tax Increase for Transit: Residents in our community and the 7-county Metro Area are estimated to pay more than $2 billion over the next four years through this 3/4 cent sales tax. Language specifically states the Met Council must use this funding for more than 10 transit-related items. 
• 75-Cent "Delivery Tax": Nearly $721 million is expected to be leveled on residents in the next four years who shop from home thanks to this tax on goods and prepared food deliveries. Your next pizza delivery will face this delivery tax to fund state and local roads.
• License Tab Fee increases: Democrats will raise around $861 million over the next four years in fees for renewing license tabs. They also want to enact a $10 surcharge on all tab renewals.
• Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Increase: Increasing the Motor Vehicles Sales Tax from 6.5% to 6.875% would cost motorists more than $227 million over the next four years. 

There is no reason to raise taxes on Minnesotans this session. Instead of returning the surplus and investing in targeted priorities like nursing homes and education, House Democrats are focused on a spending spree that is projected to grow state government by 30% over the next two years.

This is absolutely unsustainable and taxpayers cannot afford it. We are already one of the highest taxed states in the nation – we don’t need more tax increases. We need to focus spending and limit the growth of government to live within our means.

Photos

I had a great group of students visit my office this week! Thank you for stopping by!

Met with members of Ducks Unlimited who spoke about the need to conserve, restore, and manage our wetlands.

Please Contact Me

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance. I’d also love to meet you if you are coming to the Capitol!

The best way to reach me is by email: rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn.gov. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked multiple times/week.

Have a great weekend!

Kristin

239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806