February 11, 2010: Legislative Report #6

House Bill Introduction

Today legislators introduced 95 bills: HF Nos. 2823 through 2917. Our elected leaders continue introducing legislation designed to limit freedom restrict personal liberty, increase taxation and isolate government from accountability. Here are a couple examples from the list of bills introduced today.

House File 2831 provides for creating very punitive actions on child support. The bill provides for actions which restrict personal liberty and provide for a life long retroactive obligation with public notice, virtually, a child support scarlet letter for obligators. The bill’s authors are Representative Linda Slocum (DFL), District 63B and Representative Jeff Hayden (DFL), District 61B.

The vast majority of people who experienced the Minnesota child support system as recipients or providers agree that the system is flawed, broken and in need of a complete overhaul. House File 2831 does nothing but exacerbate the child support problems.

Solution: STOP making new laws to criminalize citizens, recognize the failed existing system and revamp child support. In fact, our Constitution does not provide authority for state government to interfere in this issue.

State government can facilitate solutions for parental involvement financially, but pounding on parents with the heavy hand of punitive government is not a solution, nor is it constitutional.

House File 2876 eliminates a utility property tax exemption and allows utilities to pass along the increased property tax obligation to the consumers.  Representative Loren Solberg (DFL), District 03B is the bill’s author. Our elected leaders are looking under every tax rock in Saint Paul to balance the bloated budget.

Solution: Reduce state government to the restricted authority of our Constitution. Then the taxpayers and citizens would have an affordable government. Minnesota would have healthy, viable, and prosperous communities.