This is my second year in the Legislature and my second year on the Agricultural Policy, Rural Economies, and Veterans’ Affairs committee. I am especially proud of our work this term to support and thank Minnesota’s military personnel, veterans, and their families.

I voted for many measures to support our veterans, many contained in the recently passed and signed Omnibus Tax Bill. Here are some of the new laws designed to serve Minnesota’s military and veterans:

Traumatic Brain Injury/Health Care

I attended a hearing in which we learned that traumatic brain injury will be known as the ’signature wound’ that too many veterans suffer. The House allocated funding to design a treatment program for veterans suffering TBI.

We must address the growing need to provide community-based and home-based medical services for our veterans. Last week, I attended a meeting with Congressman Tim Walz, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and others to discuss ways to supplement the VA system with localized care for veterans in Greater Minnesota.

The House took steps toward community and home-based health care this year. I strongly support the work we authorized to develop ways to help veterans live independently and still receive care. We also established a Veterans Health Care Advisory Council, which will develop ideas for providing quality health-care for veterans and to prepare for expected needs in the future.

Study of state veterans homes

I have had a chance to talk with Gilbert Acevedo, the new Executive Director of the Minnesota State Veterans Homes. Mr. Acevedo’s credentials are impressive and he has set out a plan for addressing concerns that have arisen concerning the state homes.

The House approved a strategic planning study of the state veterans homes. One focus will be examination of the feasibility of partnering to provide home-based services to veterans so they can live more independently in their homes. Exploring alternatives for the Minneapolis Veterans Home will also be included.

Property tax help for veterans, service organizations, and hardship assessments

While property taxes are hard for many Minnesotans, they can be especially challenging for disabled veterans. This year, we enacted a homestead exemption for disabled military veterans. It provides a market value exclusion of up to $300,000 (depending on disability level) on a homestead for property taxation purposes. Honorably discharged veterans with a military service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher will qualify.

This new benefit consists of two tiers:

$150,000 market value exclusion, for a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 70 percent to 100 percent; or

$300,000 market value exclusion, for a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as being total and permanent.

A qualifying veteran’s spouse who co-owns or inherits the home and permanently lives there will continue to receive the exclusion upon the veteran’s death.

The VFW, American Legion, and other nonprofit community service-oriented organizations will have their property tax classifications reduced. These service organizations had been taxed at the same rate as regular businesses.

In Minnesota, a county, city or town may defer payment of special assessments for any homestead property of seniors and disabled persons. This year, we passed a law to allow veterans to receive these deferments.

Military service combat zone credit

The bill ensures that the estate or heirs of a deceased veteran can claim the military service combat credit.

National Guard income tax exclusion

In 2005, an enacted law exempted military reservists’ out-of-state military services from the income tax. We extended this exemption to the National Guard.

A new Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery

The House worked with the governor to establish a second Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery south of Duluth.

Vietnam Veterans Day and Korean War Armistice Day

In committee, we heard compelling testimony supporting state designation of Vietnam Veterans Day. I voted to support this designation: the State of Minnesota will now honor and thank Vietnam War veterans by designating every March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

On Monday, I voted with the House to pass a Korean War Armistice Day remembrance to be held on July 27.

I am proud of our work on the House Veterans Affairs committee, which includes many other provisions for active military, veterans, and their families. I look forward to continuing this work for the rest of the session and throughout the summer and fall. Please do not hesitate to call me to talk about how I can be helpful

“Representative Terry Morrow and Senator Kathy Sheran will be on campus to discuss housing issues with area housing and homelessness service providers. Richard Leitch will facilitate the discussion. Some of the issues to be discussed include the blocking of affordable housing development in Edina, issues facing Sharing Caring Hands of Minneapolis, trends in the Saint Peter and Mankato Area, and what the government can be expected to do to solve homelessness and poverty.”

Source: Gustavus Adolphus College Calendar, April 27, 2008

State Representative Terry Morrow was successful in passing a series of transportation-related provisions in the House today as part of the Transportation Policy Bill. These measures included establishing a MnDOT deputy commissioner/chief engineer position, refining the rules regarding implements of husbandry, and enhancing driver training by focusing on driving near school buses and trucks.

“I gladly carried this package of bills designed to enhance safety as our children learn to drive and as we preserve, maintain, and increase the safety of our roads and bridges,” Morrow said.

Hasting Bridge (MPR)

Morrow’s bill to create a licensed, professional engineer position within MnDOT’s upper management brings engineering expertise to the important road and bridge needs throughout Minnesota. This bill’s passage brings Minnesota in line with the 49 other states, all of which have a chief engineer and/or a professional engineer in upper management.

Working across party lines with Representative John Berns, Morrow improved the original bill by recognizing that the MnDOT commissioner might fulfill the licensed professional engineer requirement.

Morrow’s implements of husbandry bill successfully resolved years of disagreement. MnDOT, Minnesota’s counties, the county engineers, and the agricultural groups agreed with the bill, which clarified weight restrictions and other rules on bridges for certain farm vehicles.

“I am very impressed by the way that the interested parties came together and came to an agreement,” Morrow said. “This resolution brings some comfort to farmers and to county engineers working to keep our roads and bridges safe.”

Press Release, April 24

Senator Sheran and I met with St. Peter North Intermediate students today.  Mr. Barnick asked me the best and worst parts of being a representative.  I responded that the best part is meeting with students.  It’s the honest truth: Martha and I teach, we coach, we volunteer for kids, and we love our own children.  To be able to share the Capitol and talk about government with kids from our area is a tremendous privilege and a lot of fun.

Thank you for coming!

Terry

I joined several other representatives (Bud Heidgerken, Dean Urdahl, Kent Eken, and Patti Fritz) at a long-term care rally in the Capitol Rotunda.

The Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance rally summary can be found at:

http://www.mhha.com/index/notices-app/story.593/menu./sec./home

I greatly enjoyed meeting with 4th and 5th graders from Nicollet Public Schools today.  It was a beautiful day, so we went to the Capitol roof to see the Quadriga (the golden statue).  The students had wonderful questions and ideas about schools, driving, and other issues.

Thank you, Nicollet!
Terry

St. Paul, MN - Representative Terry Morrow joined the House of Representatives to pass a landmark Health Care Reform Bill to transform Minnesota’s health care system. The bill proposes changes designed to make health care more affordable for Minnesotans. The Minnesota Medical Association (doctors’ group), the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Children’s Defense Fund, the American Cancer Society, The American Diabetes Association, the American Lung Association, AARP, the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, the Local Public Health Association of America, Seniors and Workers for Quality, and others support this bill.

“Health care is one of the most common issues I hear about from folks in our area. My family and I share the concerns of families, farmers, and businesses who are concerned about rising health care costs, especially in troubling economic times,” said Morrow.

One in five Minnesotans — which means almost 1 million people– pay more than 10% of their income for health care. Having health insurance does not reduce this cost for many Minnesotans. Almost 250,000 Minnesotans with insurance pay over 25% of their income for health care.

The Health Care Reform Bill focuses upon cutting administrative costs, improving the delivery of health care, and reducing smoking, obesity, diabetes, and other health care problems. Coverage for uninsured Minnesotans is expanded under the bill. When coupled with the 2007 health care reforms that the House passed, the Health Care Reform Bill provides coverage to 100,000 Minnesotans who were not covered.

“Restoring MinnesotaCare eligibility for families, especially our farmers who were especially hurt by previous rule changes, and expanding health care access for children were major goals when I entered the legislature. Today, we make excellent progress on these goals,” said Morrow.

A fundamental change in how Minnesotans interact with our health care system is a promising transformation in the Reform Bill. Traditionally, health care primarily focused upon helping sick people become better, which can involve expensive treatments and procedures. Care for chronic medical conditions such as diabetes accounts for more than 80% of health care spending.

The Health Care Reform Bill focuses upon keeping Minnesotans healthy. “Our doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals will now be encouraged and compensated more fairly for helping us stay healthy, which produces dramatic health care cost savings for everyone in the long term,” said Morrow.

Helping our nursing homes has been another priority for Representative Morrow. “I hear often from folks working in our nursing homes that their employers offer health insurance coverage, but they cannot afford the coverage,” Representative Morrow stated. Across Minnesota, 81 percent of long-term care workers have access, but only 36% are covered. This bill directs the state to study this problem and propose solutions.

The House Health Care Reform plan uses funds in the Health Care Access Fund (HCAF). The HCAF supports the MinnesotaCare program, which offers low-cost health care to qualifying Minnesotans. The HCAF receives its revenues from provider taxes (including hospitals, surgical centers and other health care providers), premiums on behalf of MinnesotaCare enrollees, a 1% gross premiums tax, and federal matching funds.

Press release, April 10, 2008