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Taxes
Sharon Erickson Ropes is a chief author of a bill that would give the Legislature authority over tax reciprocity between Minnesota and Wisconsin. The executive branch oversees the agreement now. A previous agreement between the states that allowed taxpayers living in one state and working in the other to file a single tax return ended Dec. 31. We think any time taxes are being dealt with the peoples representatives should have a voice in the process, she said. Erickson Ropes also plans to work to address the massive property evaluation jump many rural properties experienced when a state program that kept land prices artificially low ended this year.
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Protecting K-12 Funding
K-12 education was spared cuts last year, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty has already told legislators that every program will be considered for cuts as the state wrestles with its budget deficit this year. After the massive cuts we made last time and we spared K-12 ... theres going to be nowhere else to go other than look at everyone, Erickson Ropes said.
Pawlenty last year delayed $1.7 billion in state aid to schools to help balance the budget. Uncertainty remains over if and when school districts may see that money, Erickson Ropes said.
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GAMC
Sharon Erickson Ropes will focus on helping those served by the states General Assistance Medical Care program, which will end April 1. This is the sickest of the sick, the poorest of the poor, with long-term health needs, she said. While those people will be enrolled in another state program when GAMC ends, their inclusion will only diminish available resources for working families that get help with their health insurance through that program, Erickson Ropes said. All youre doing is bumping the problems into another place.