Paul Thissen: Innovation in Action

Session Summary 2010

Thank you for the privilege of serving you in the State House of Representatives.  The last two years  have been challenging for Minnesota. My top priority has been to make sure our state government is working as a partner with you to jump start private sector job creation, to shield vulnerable families who have lost jobs, health care and homes from the worst ravages of the economy and to put in place reforms and protections to avoid similar catastrophes in the future.

Of course, budget deficits dominated discussions at the Capitol.  Faced with a $6.4 billion deficit in 2009 and a subsequent $3 billion deficit in 2010, I worked to equitably balance the budget, implement reforms, control spending, and bring much-needed revenue into Minnesota.   Cuts were made to most areas of the budget, including deep reductions in health and human services and higher education.  I argued for fairer state taxes on wealthier Minnesotans rather than increased property taxes to fund the most basic of services: police and fire, roads and bridges, and K-12 education.   I also did not just talk about reforming government; I authored and passed several laws that will change the way we do business as a state.

The next legislative session will be even more challenging.  It is clear that our current path — eight years of ideological politics, slashed programs and higher property taxes, and an unwillingness to fundamentally change how we do the business of government — is unsustainable.  I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you to bring smart and practical new ideas forward – and actually implement them into law.

Thank you for your commitment to Minnesota and for contacting my office with your opinions, thoughts, and concerns.  I am proud to represent Richfield and south Minneapolis in the Minnesota House of Representatives and look forward to continuing to serve district 63A.  I hope to see many of you during the upcoming months.

Session Recap; Road Ahead

The challenges Minnesotans faced during the 2009 legislative session were enormous.  The final result was deeply disappointing.  In particular, Governor Pawlenty’s decision to cut health care for more than 30,000 of the poorest, most vulnerable Minnesotans – and to place in jeopardy hospitals across the state – is stunning and unacceptable.   If there was ever a single decision that makes it clear we need a new Governor, that reckless choice was it.

Setting aside all the spin, this is the stark reality:  The stalemate at the Capitol reflects a deep disagreement over our basic values and the direction of our state.  Are we better off to let every person fend for himself or do we owe each other an obligation to reach out in times of need?  Do community institutions matter enough to invest in or do we measure their value only in terms of what each of us gains from them as individuals?

If you agree with me that community does matter. . .   If you agree with me that Minnesota is great because of our belief that everyone have an opportunity to share in prosperity. . .   If you agree with me that our success should be measured not only against our tax ranking, but also by our commitment to social justice and quality of life . . .  please get involved in my campaign for Governor today.  CLICK HERE!

The truth is that together we can move Minnesota forward to a better future — and I worked hard this session to make that better future a reality.

More Kids Can See a Doctor: My several year effort to extend health coverage to Minnesota’s kids continued to meet success.  Despite warnings that it could not be done in a deficit year, we removed bureaucratic barriers to coverage for kids in families living on $3,000 a month or less.  The result is an additional 20,000 Minnesota kids receiving the health care they need to succeed.

Innovation in Government: I worked hard to pass two important initiatives to change the way our state does business.  The first demands more cooperation among our 87 counties to allow for greater efficiency and innovation.   The second initiative — Community Solutions Grants – encourages our non-profit partners to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to social challenges. The fund will reward those programs that can take small, innovative ideas statewide and that have a plan to become self-sustaining without the need for continued government support.

Planning for the Age Wave: With the huge baby boom generation beginning to retire, we must take action or the demands of an aging population for different types of housing, transportation and health care will overwhelm us.  My “Communities for a Lifetime” bill builds on legislation I passed in 2008 to assist municipalities throughout the state in helping their older residents stay active and engaged.

New Energy Solutions: Minnesota has made important progress to prepare for a new energy future, but with too little attention to thermal energy – the energy we use to heat our homes and offices.  This year, I passed legislation to make the production of thermal energy from renewable resources – solar, biomass and others – a priority for Minnesota.

Protecting Vulnerable Minnesotans: I am proud to have passed legislation that tightens Minnesota’s standards for guardians and conservators and reforms Minnesota’s largely unregulated system charged with safeguarding the lives and assets of citizens deemed unable to make their own decisions.  The law now clearly sets out a 15-point bill of rights for wards and protected persons.

If these are the same priorities you share — caring for the elderly, promoting the health of youth, taking our energy challenges head on, government  innovation — then you know why I’m running for Governor.

Join our effort today to put Minnesota’s values first.  Please visit www.paulthissen.com to learn more.

2008 Session Summary

The 2008 legislative session ended on Sunday, May 18, to the sound of fireworks for Minnesota’s 150th birthday. The timing was fitting. The work we completed over the past several months is in line with our state’s proud tradition of forward-thinking, practical policy-making that focuses on ideas rather than ideology.

I am most proud of my work as one of the chief architects of comprehensive health care reform; an effort the Star Tribune labeled the “prize” of the session. The legislation takes important steps to make high quality health care affordable to more Minnesotans. In addition, as a result of our work over the last two years, 100,000 more Minnesotans have health coverage.

The legislature also provided more money to our schools. Property taxes will be held down by expanding state aid to cities and counties and by expanding our program to provide direct relief to homeowners whose property taxes increased substantially. We set aside land for our first new state park in decades near Lake Vermillion. Read Full Entry…

2007 Session Summary

The 2007 legislative session has ended.  It was my first session as a member of the majority party, an
experience that was both exhilarating and humbling.  As always, there were successes and disappointments.

Following the strong electoral showing for DFL legislative candidates last fall, the expectations for the
2007 session were high.  The DFL House caucus pursued  a bold and broad legislative agenda that kept faith with promises made to voters. Our legislative program set forth  a vision of Minnesota’s future where students in every school district in the state get a fair shake and all-day kindergarten is a reality; where higher education remains affordable; where hardworking parents need not worry about whether they can afford to bring their sick child to a doctor; where commerce and commuters can move through our cities and across our state efficiently and safely.  It is a future where rising property taxes will not drive our seniors from their homes.  Of course, not everyone shares that vision and we did not complete the agenda.

Yet I am extremely proud of the work we did.  At its best, the State Capitol is a venue where people
from all parts of the state and all backgrounds gather to debate how we can best ensure a future both
prosperous and fair for all Minnesotans.   That debate happened in earnest this spring and made crystal clear the decisions that lie before us.  It is the real story of the 2007 session. It is a conversation that I cannot wait to continue to have with all of you. Read Full Entry…

2006 Session Summary

The 2006 Session closed on Sunday evening.  As you know, the state budget is set in the odd-number year sessions.  As such, the even-year sessions are shorter with more limited agendas.  Here is an overview of what happened and did not happen.

My personal practical legislative agenda this session – knowing it was not a budget year — included four items: accomplish the merger of the Minneapolis Teacher Pension into the statewide teacher pension fund; enact reform to the state’s eminent domain laws to protect individual property rights while allowing local government to accomplish important public purposes; pass electronic waste reform and move toward more targeted and efficient property tax relief.  Two out of four were accomplished.

Minneapolis Teacher Pension Reform

The Minneapolis Teacher Pension is in dire straits, within years of bankruptcy and the solution gets more expensive by millions and millions of dollars each year.  And the bottom line politically, legally and morally is that the State of Minnesota cannot renege on promises made to those teachers who spent their lifetimes teaching generations of Minnesota children.  The looming default posed a grave threat to Minneapolis property tax payers and all taxpayers from around the state. Read Full Entry…