July 27, 2010
Last Thursday, U. S. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid announced that he did not have the 60 votes necessary to pass major climate change legislation. This was very disappointing news for those working to pass comprehensive, equitable legislation to address climate change. It is expected that Congress will instead push through a series of smaller bills focused on addressing liability and safety issues related to the BP oil spill and potentially some other less comprehensive energy efficiency and clean energy measures.
This is a loss not only for our environment, but also for low-income populations and people of color. The failure to pass comprehensive climate change legislations means:
- Those who disproportionately bear the negative effects of climate change will continue to be in harm’s way. To learn more about what this means, read how the Red Cross is already working to help vulnerable populations prepare for extreme weather events caused by climate change.
- The anticipated piece-by-piece legislation to address climate change will not provide a revenue stream for funding priorities like consumer relief from energy price increases, training for green jobs for those traditionally without equitable access to livable wage jobs, and dedicated funds to help nonprofits and low-income households afford efficiency improvements and reduce their energy consumption.
This is an important moment for you to speak up on behalf of disadvantaged populations. Let Minnesota’s congressional delegation know that you are paying attention and are disappointed that Congress failed to pass comprehensive climate change legislation at this critical time.
- If your representative in the U.S. House voted in support of The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (Congresswoman McCollum and Congressmen Ellison, Oberstar, Peterson and Walz), thank them for supporting comprehensive climate legislation and ask them to continue working for viable solutions that consider the impacts on vulnerable populations.
- If your representative in the U.S. House voted against The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (Congresswoman Bachmann and Congressmen Kline and Paulsen), let them know that you are disappointed in their vote and the failure of Congress to address climate change as a serious issue that will continue to bring harm to our environment and to vulnerable populations.
- Tell Senators Franken and Klobuchar that you are disappointed in the U. S. Senate’s inability to pass comprehensive climate change legislation, but that you appreciate their willingness to champion climate equity issues. Ask them to keep fighting for solutions to climate change that consider the impacts on vulnerable populations.
Find out who represents you and call their offices today! For more information on climate change and implications for vulnerable populations, visit the Minnesota Budget Project Climate Change Resource Page.
-Leah Gardner
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Action Opportunity, cap and trade | Tagged: climate equity, climate-change, Congress | 
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Posted by leahgardner
June 16, 2010
The Minnesota Budget Bites blog has been around for three legislative sessions – providing you with interesting information in a timely way. But we aren’t just at work during the session, we’ll be blogging away all summer and fall as important policy decisions are made at the federal level, as new reports shed light on Minnesota’s social and economic health, and as the state starts gearing up for a very tough legislative session in 2011.
And why do we do it? Because we want people to have accurate information about the fiscal challenges facing state and federal policymakers – and because we want people to have a better understanding of how low-income families and other vulnerable populations are faring in our state. Ultimately, we are working towards sound budget decisions that improve the lives of all Minnesotans.
We are able to fund our work at the Minnesota Budget Project thanks to the generous support of foundations and the members of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. However, in these tough times, that isn’t always enough – we also need the support of those of you who count on us to deliver timely information and solid analysis all year long.
Your donation will allow us to continue to maintain our high standards. But more than that, your donation will assure us that all those late nights and early mornings are worth it because people are reading and appreciating what we do (you can donate online or send us a check).
So, go ahead, make our day.
-Christina Wessel
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Posted by Christina Wessel
April 9, 2010
There are a couple of items from our Facebook page this week that we’d like to share with our blog audience:
Policymakers agree to $312 million in budget reductions. Policymakers took the first step to address the state’s budget shortfall on March 29, when the legislature passed a compromise supplemental budget agreement that had been negotiated with the Governor. The agreed-upon solution recommends changes to nearly every area of the state budget, except for the two largest areas: K-12 education and health and human services. New analysis from the Minnesota Budget Project highlights the major components of the supplemental budget bill and the impact on Minnesota families, then discusses the next steps for this legislative session.
Invest in Minnesota Woodbury In-District Meeting. Policymakers will be deciding shortly how to respond to the economic crisis—including whether or not they will take a balanced approach that meets the needs of Minnesota’s struggling families and starts to build for a more prosperous future.
Join Invest in Minnesota, a coalition of faith, labor and nonprofit organizations, united to raise revenue fairly, for an important conversation with Woodbury-area elected officials Rep. Bunn, Sen. Saltzman, and Rep. Swails.
This is your chance to tell your stories about why we need revenues as a part of a balanced solution to budget shortfalls, and to hear from local elected officials on how they plan to balance the budget.
The details: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury, MN
Please RSVP today to Julia Jackson or 651-757-3074 so that we can plan accordingly with space and refreshments. With any questions, contact Leah Gardner or 651-757-3063. More info at the Invest in Minnesota web site.
Tax Payback Year. We previously blogged on the problems with the Tax Freedom Day report. We later came across Economics Professor Nancy Folbre’s estimate of Tax Payback Year on the New York Times’ Economix.com blog. Tax Payback Year is described as “the number of years beyond age 21 that it takes average taxpayers to fully repay the government (and their fellow taxpayers) for the public funds expended on them in their first 21 years.” Interesting food for thought.
-The Minnesota Budget Project Team
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Posted by Nan Madden
March 3, 2010
The Minnesota Budget Project has been closely following legislation to address climate change. Low-income populations will be disproportionately impacted if nothing is done about climate change, but these same households will also be impacted harder by price increases resulting from efforts to stop climate change. It is important, therefore, that any climate change legislation protect low-income households from price increases and make sure that they have access to green jobs, home weatherization and other opportunities.
Since the U.S. House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act in June of 2009, we have all been waiting to see what action the Senate would take. There have been a variety of proposals floated, including cap-and-trade, cap-and-dividend and other ideas somewhere in between. Our allies in Washington D.C. have indicated that the Senate is working to put a bi-partisan proposal in motion within the next few weeks, so the time to influence that bill is now.
Please join the Minnesota Budget Project – and other organizations from across the country – in letting the Senate know that there is broad nationwide support for strong and fair climate change legislation.
Call your Senators during the “72 Hours for Clean American Power” campaign running now through Thursday, March 4th. This is our opportunity to remind our Minnesota Senators that there is a diverse community supporting their efforts to pass comprehensive climate change. However, to make that legislation fair, the bill must provide low-income consumer relief and access to economic opportunities like energy efficiency improvements and green jobs.
Call Senator Klobuchar (202-224-3244) and Senator Franken (202-224-5641) on Wednesday or Thursday to be a part of the “72 Hours for Clean American Power.” If you miss that window, your call is still important. For more information, including phone numbers and sample call language, visit the Minnesota Budget Project climate change resource page.
-Leah Gardner
Leave a Comment » | Action Opportunity, cap and trade | Tagged: cap and trade, climate-change, Congress, federal, senate | Permalink
Posted by leahgardner
February 24, 2010
Governor Pawlenty and the Minnesota Legislature are anxiously awaiting word on whether and when Congress will act to extend federal fiscal aid to the states that will expire in December. Last year, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Minnesota received $1.8 billion from an increase in the federal matching rate for Medicaid (FMAP) and additional federal aid primarily for K-12 and higher education. Prior to 2009, the federal government and the state each paid 50 percent of the state’s Medicaid costs. But under the increased matching rate, the federal government now pays 60 percent of the state’s Medicaid costs with the state picking up the remaining 40 percent. Without this assistance, state budget cuts would have been much deeper and health care for thousands of Minnesotans would have been at risk.
A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities confirms the bleak fiscal outlook facing most states and predicts that, “Without further federal aid, the actions states will have to take to close their budget gaps could cost the economy 900,000 jobs.”
Minnesota is facing a severe budget shortfall of $1.2 billion in this budget cycle. The Governor’s budget proposes deep cuts to health care and other human services that are vital to the well-being of thousands of Minnesotans but also assumes that Congress will pass an extension of health care assistance. Such an extension could bring $387 million to Minnesota and could help to ease the pressure for further cuts. The key question is whether Congress will act in time to impact state budget decisions that need to be made in the next few months.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an extension of fiscal aid in late December last year, but the Senate has yet to act. Senator Franken is a cosponsor of a bill (S.3000) to extend the increased matching rate for Medicaid by an additional six months. The senator’s leadership on this issue is extremely helpful in focusing attention on the need to extend FMAP to the states. Both Senators Franken and Klobuchar have also signed a letter to Majority Leader Reid asking him to include a six-month extension of the increased matching rate for Medicaid in legislation to extend Unemployment Insurance and COBRA health care benefits.
Please call Senators Franken and Klobuchar to thank them for their support on this issue. Let them know the U.S. Senate must vote soon for Minnesota to avoid deeper state budget cuts. For more details, see our action alert.
- Steve Francisco
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Posted by Steve Francisco
January 31, 2010
The 2010 Legislative Session begins this Thursday – February 4th – and it kicks off with two great ways to send a message to policymakers that the public is looking for real solutions this session.
Rally at the Capitol to Save GAMC (Thursday, February 4th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, State Capitol Rotunda)
Many people have been working very hard over the last few months to develop a plan for saving General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) – a unique health insurance program for very poor and vulnerable Minnesotans that is scheduled to end on March 31. Please join us at the Capitol this Thursday as hundreds gather to rally in support of this bill. Legislators are expected to act early in the legislative session to pass a revised version of GAMC, one that puts the needs of our communities and critical institutions first, while still making responsible budget decisions. Don’t miss this important (and fun) chance for collective action, not just for those who are directly impacted by the loss of GAMC, but everyone interested in demonstrating that the public expects policymakers to stand up and solve the tough problems facing our state…and to do it quickly!
2010 Session Line Up (Friday, February 5th, 10:00 am to noon, Best Western Kelly Inn)
Once again, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is bringing together legislative leaders and the nonprofit community to have a conversation about the legislative session. So far, Majority Leader Tony Sertich, House Assistant Minority Leader Carol McFarlane, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Senate Minority Leader David Senjem have all been confirmed. Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher is also likely to be there. This is special opportunity for people to show up and tell legislative leaders that one-time stopgaps and deep cuts to critical services are not a responsible way to solve the state’s budget problems. (This event is free, but please register so we’ll know how many people to expect!)
We hope you’ll be able to make it to both events!
-Christina Wessel
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Posted by Christina Wessel
December 15, 2009
At the end of November, we blogged about how the Senate bill addressing climate change (the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act) fell short of delivering the funds needed for low-income consumer relief. Now we’re writing to Senators Klobuchar and Franken to share our concerns with them and we are asking your organization to add your voice.
Our new letter is an updated version of a previous sign-on letter delivered earlier this fall. Both letters reflect our ongoing commitment to:
- Hold low-income households harmless from increased prices of basic necessities as a result of cap-and-trade.
- Ensure equitable access to potential economic benefits, including green jobs.
If your organization was not able to sign on to the previous version, here’s your second chance! To add your organization to the list of signers, please send an email to leah@mncn.org by this Friday, December 18th.
As you may have noticed, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act is only one of several efforts underway to address climate change. Here are some other updates:
- The United Nations Climate Change Conference, also called Cop15, is taking place in Copenhagen from December 7th through 18th. You can find detailed information at their Web site. If you’d like to follow a more Midwestern focus, a coalition called RE-AMP has compiled a list of blogs, twitter feeds, pictures and videos from Midwesterners in Copenhagen.
- Last week Senators John Kerry (MA), Joseph Lieberman (CT) and Lindsey Graham (SC) presented a “Framework for Climate Action and Energy Independence” to inform the debate on cap-and-trade in the U.S. Senate and gain bi-partisan support. For more information you can read their five-page outline.
- Last week Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) introduced a new climate change bill, the CLEAR Act. This bill proposes a “cap-and-rebate” or “cap-and-dividend” approach where 75 percent of the money raised from auctioning off carbon shares would be rebated directly to every American. The other 25 percent of revenue would be used for clean-energy research and development, energy efficiency, and green jobs assistance. For more information, a one-page summary is available.
We will continue to do our best to keep you informed as progress unfolds, but now is a great time to act by signing on to our letter or calling Minnesota’s senators with your own message. If you are interested in taking action now, please call or email us - we have templates and information you can use!
-Leah Gardner (651-757-3063) and Julia Jackson (651-757-3074)
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Posted by leahgardner
November 30, 2009
In early November, the Senate climate change bill (the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act) made its way through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Here at the Minnesota Budget Project, we asked Minnesotans to contact our own Senator Amy Klobuchar, who sits on this committee, to ask her to maintain and strengthen the low-income consumer relief provisions related to the cap and trade system. Unfortunately, there was a setback in terms of fully funding consumer relief, and we want to update you on what changes were made and where the bill is headed next.
While the House bill provided full relief for low-income consumers, committing 15 percent of the total emissions allowance value, the Senate version has decreased the overall amount of funds due to deficit reduction requirements. Although the bill still says it provides 15 percent for consumer relief, it is 15 percent of a smaller pot of money. In comparison to the House bill, the Senate bill actually ends up allotting 12.6 percent of the previous total allowance value according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. For more information on the Senate climate bill you can read their full report on the latest markups.
Although the Senate may not be looking at the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act again until early 2010, now is the time to get involved.
The Minnesota Budget Project is hosting two events this week to bring people together to talk about why climate change is a concern for low-income communities and how proposed solutions can create new opportunities. These Convening on Climate Change events are free and will take place in Duluth on December 2nd, and Mankato on December 3rd. You can find the details and RSVP for these events online.
Now is also a great time to contact your Senators or plan a visit for when they are home for the holiday break. We suggest the following simple talking points:
- Provide full protection to low-income households and extend additional relief to moderate income households by increasing the allowance revenue dedicated to direct consumer relief. At a minimum, dedicate the same amount of revenue as the House bill did—using 15 percent of total allowance revenue.
- Redirect allowances currently going to utilities, as needed, to fund direct consumer relief.
- Provide additional funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide energy assistance to low-income consumers who face above-average cost burdens, risking utility shut-offs or other hardships.
Another reason to act now is because we expect discussion to heat up with the upcoming COP15 international conference on climate change taking place in Copenhagen in December. Find out more online at the COP15 website.
-Leah Gardner (with Julia Jackson, our intern working on climate change)
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Posted by leahgardner
