Pawlenty's health care plan would allow patients to view records on secure websites and use debit cards to tap flexible spending accounts. For 50,000 state employees, it could be a reality by next year.
By PATRICIA LOPEZ, Star Tribune
Last update: July 29, 2008 - 11:22 PM
You're sick. Achy. You've got a nagging feeling that maybe this is a recurrence of that bug you picked up a few months ago.
Imagine logging on to your secured personal medical Web profile, checking results of previous lab tests, doing a few quick price comparisons on treatment options, then using your flexible spending account debit card to pay for eligible out-of-pocket costs.
That's what could soon be in store for all Minnesotans and what will be reality for the state's 50,000 employees as early as next year, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday in a major health-care rollout that he said puts Minnesota in the forefront of consumer-friendly medicine.
Speaking to a health care alliance group at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, Pawlenty said his goal is to give all Minnesotans access to online personal health portfolios by 2011.
Click here to read the entire article.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Star Tribune: Legislature adjourns after budget deal reached
Property tax relief, budget cuts and new public facilities add up to a session all sides called one of the most successful in years as the Legislature adjourned.
By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune
Last update: May 19, 2008 - 10:05 AM
Fireworks burst outside the State Capitol Sunday night -- a celebration of 150 years of statehood. But, for a change, few explosions occurred inside the historic building, after Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders reached agreement on a budget that ended the 2008 legislative session.
The House and Senate processed bills to ratify the leaders' agreement, and both chambers adjourned shortly before midnight, with generally good feelings prevailing.
The closing deal means more Minnesotans will be covered by health insurance, more money will flow to public schools and nursing homes, a light-rail line between Minneapolis and St. Paul is a step closer to reality, and so is Minnesota's first new major state park in 40 years.
Property tax relief is also on the way, in several forms. Pawlenty and legislative negotiators agreed to limit increases in city and county property taxes to 3.9 percent annually for the next three years.
Click here to read the entire article.
By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune
Last update: May 19, 2008 - 10:05 AM
Fireworks burst outside the State Capitol Sunday night -- a celebration of 150 years of statehood. But, for a change, few explosions occurred inside the historic building, after Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders reached agreement on a budget that ended the 2008 legislative session.
The House and Senate processed bills to ratify the leaders' agreement, and both chambers adjourned shortly before midnight, with generally good feelings prevailing.
The closing deal means more Minnesotans will be covered by health insurance, more money will flow to public schools and nursing homes, a light-rail line between Minneapolis and St. Paul is a step closer to reality, and so is Minnesota's first new major state park in 40 years.
Property tax relief is also on the way, in several forms. Pawlenty and legislative negotiators agreed to limit increases in city and county property taxes to 3.9 percent annually for the next three years.
Click here to read the entire article.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Star Tribune: Pawlenty slashes $200 million from bonding bill
The governor trimmed $200 million-plus from the bonding bill through line-item vetoes. DFLers said the cuts hit their districts, especially St. Paul, hard. But Pawlenty asserted they were neither personal nor political.
By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune
Last update: April 7, 2008 - 10:06 PM
Complaining about "misplaced priorities" that would fund a sheet music museum but not a new nursing facility for veterans, Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Monday slashed more than $200 million from the capital investment bill presented to him last week by the DFL-controlled Legislature.
The Republican governor had raised the prospect of vetoing the entire bill, which funds construction projects and has been held up this year as an important jobs package in a weakening economy. Instead, he reduced it by 13 percent to $717 million, using 52 line-item vetoes. DFL critics contended that he focused the cuts on their districts, particularly in St. Paul.
Click here to read the entire article.
By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune
Last update: April 7, 2008 - 10:06 PM
Complaining about "misplaced priorities" that would fund a sheet music museum but not a new nursing facility for veterans, Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Monday slashed more than $200 million from the capital investment bill presented to him last week by the DFL-controlled Legislature.
The Republican governor had raised the prospect of vetoing the entire bill, which funds construction projects and has been held up this year as an important jobs package in a weakening economy. Instead, he reduced it by 13 percent to $717 million, using 52 line-item vetoes. DFL critics contended that he focused the cuts on their districts, particularly in St. Paul.
Click here to read the entire article.
Monday, March 17, 2008
WCCO: Pawlenty Names Former Law Partner As Chief Justice
ST. PAUL (AP) ― Eric Magnuson, a former law partner of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, secured an appointment Monday to the Minnesota Supreme Court's top job, becoming the state's first chief justice in seven decades without prior service on the high court.
He replaces Russell Anderson, who announced last week he would retire in June. Magnuson, a noted appellate lawyer, had been in charge of screening judicial candidates for the governor.
"For 32 years, I've been thinking this would be a really good job," Magnuson said, with Anderson, the six other justices and relatives looking on. Magnuson, 57, cut his legal teeth as a law clerk to former Chief Justice Robert Sheran and as a clerk to Hennepin County District Judge Douglas Amdahl before he became chief justice. But he has spent most of his career in private practice.
Click here to read the entire story.
He replaces Russell Anderson, who announced last week he would retire in June. Magnuson, a noted appellate lawyer, had been in charge of screening judicial candidates for the governor.
"For 32 years, I've been thinking this would be a really good job," Magnuson said, with Anderson, the six other justices and relatives looking on. Magnuson, 57, cut his legal teeth as a law clerk to former Chief Justice Robert Sheran and as a clerk to Hennepin County District Judge Douglas Amdahl before he became chief justice. But he has spent most of his career in private practice.
Click here to read the entire story.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Pioneer Press: Pawlenty budget fix cuts spending, but also cuts sales tax
Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 03/07/2008 04:03:02 PM CST
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget fix comes with a twist: In addition to spending cuts, he's proposing a statewide sales tax reduction.
The 1/8th of a percent cut to the sales tax would actually deepen Minnesota's anticipated deficit, which economic forecasters say will hit $935 million. Pawlenty, a Republican, said today that the sales tax cut would provide an economic stimulus and cost the state treasury $77 million over the next 16 months.
"This is a modest tax cut, but it's a step in the right direction," Pawlenty said.
His plan seeks to use $250 million from the state budget reserve and shifts another $250 million from a health care fund to cover subsidized care for disadvantaged Minnesotans.
Nobody will be removed" from government health programs, he said. But he said a planned expansion of coverage would be canceled.
Tax collectors would pull in $102 million more by doing away with an exemption some corporations used to shield income from overseas operations.
Click here to read the entire article.
Article Last Updated: 03/07/2008 04:03:02 PM CST
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget fix comes with a twist: In addition to spending cuts, he's proposing a statewide sales tax reduction.
The 1/8th of a percent cut to the sales tax would actually deepen Minnesota's anticipated deficit, which economic forecasters say will hit $935 million. Pawlenty, a Republican, said today that the sales tax cut would provide an economic stimulus and cost the state treasury $77 million over the next 16 months.
"This is a modest tax cut, but it's a step in the right direction," Pawlenty said.
His plan seeks to use $250 million from the state budget reserve and shifts another $250 million from a health care fund to cover subsidized care for disadvantaged Minnesotans.
Nobody will be removed" from government health programs, he said. But he said a planned expansion of coverage would be canceled.
Tax collectors would pull in $102 million more by doing away with an exemption some corporations used to shield income from overseas operations.
Click here to read the entire article.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Pioneer Press: Gov. Pawlenty predicts revolt over transportation bill tax increases
By BILL SALISBURY bsalisbury@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 02/26/2008 04:26:07 PM CST
Gov. Tim Pawlenty today predicted Minnesota taxpayers would revolt against the gas and other tax increases that Democrats in the Legislature imposed on them Monday by overriding his veto of the transportation bill.
"Yesterday the DFL had their day raising taxes," Pawlwenty said at a Capitol news conference. "Now the taxpayers of Minnesota will have their days between now and when they get to decide how they want this Legislature to run in the future and who's going run it.
Yesterday will be the day that began a tax revolt in Minnesota," he said with uncharacteristic passion.
The transportation bill will increase the gas tax by 5.5 cents this year and up 8.5 cents in future years. It also levies a 0.25 percent sales in the metro area for transit, boosts motor vehicle license tab fees and increases other smaller taxes.
"Yesterday the DFL caucus took a bucket of tax increases and dumped it on the heads of hardworking Minnesotans at at time when they're stuggling to pay food costs, when they're struggling to pay health-care costs, when theyre struggling to pay gasoline costs, and the economy is shaky and their worried about their economic future."
Click here to read the entire article.
Article Last Updated: 02/26/2008 04:26:07 PM CST
Gov. Tim Pawlenty today predicted Minnesota taxpayers would revolt against the gas and other tax increases that Democrats in the Legislature imposed on them Monday by overriding his veto of the transportation bill.
"Yesterday the DFL had their day raising taxes," Pawlwenty said at a Capitol news conference. "Now the taxpayers of Minnesota will have their days between now and when they get to decide how they want this Legislature to run in the future and who's going run it.
Yesterday will be the day that began a tax revolt in Minnesota," he said with uncharacteristic passion.
The transportation bill will increase the gas tax by 5.5 cents this year and up 8.5 cents in future years. It also levies a 0.25 percent sales in the metro area for transit, boosts motor vehicle license tab fees and increases other smaller taxes.
"Yesterday the DFL caucus took a bucket of tax increases and dumped it on the heads of hardworking Minnesotans at at time when they're stuggling to pay food costs, when they're struggling to pay health-care costs, when theyre struggling to pay gasoline costs, and the economy is shaky and their worried about their economic future."
Click here to read the entire article.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Coon Rapids ECM Publishers: Pawlenty Vetos Transportation Finance Bill
Pawlenty vetoes transportation finance bill; Speaker Kelliher says votes for override are there
Friday, 22 February 2008
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vetoed the transportation finance bill passed Thursday (Feb. 21) night by lawmakers.
In his veto letter, Pawlenty expressed disappointment that lawmakers chose to ignore his “repeated” offers to work together on a compromise.
“This is a bill that goes way, way too far,” said Pawlenty Press Secretary Brian McClung, speaking for the governor who is on his way to National Governor’s Association meeting in Washington.
Standing outside the Governor’s Office,
McClung posed with the “Veto” stamp Pawlenty applied to the transportation bill.
He questioned why Congress on a bipartisan basis had crafted an economic stimulus package that included tax cuts while Minnesota lawmakers were raising tax.
Click here to read the entire article.
Friday, 22 February 2008
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vetoed the transportation finance bill passed Thursday (Feb. 21) night by lawmakers.
In his veto letter, Pawlenty expressed disappointment that lawmakers chose to ignore his “repeated” offers to work together on a compromise.
“This is a bill that goes way, way too far,” said Pawlenty Press Secretary Brian McClung, speaking for the governor who is on his way to National Governor’s Association meeting in Washington.
Standing outside the Governor’s Office,
McClung posed with the “Veto” stamp Pawlenty applied to the transportation bill.
He questioned why Congress on a bipartisan basis had crafted an economic stimulus package that included tax cuts while Minnesota lawmakers were raising tax.
Click here to read the entire article.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
