Newsmakers: Sen. John Hoffman Previews Upcoming Legislative Session
Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, plans to work toward bonding projects for a Brooklyn Park fire station and community activity center improvements, alongside tax increment financing (TIF) provisions.
As chair of the Human Services Policy and Finance Committee, Hoffman says he believes discussions will be based around innovation and crucial needs.
“It’s going to be discussion based on need and not anything else. Remember Rep. Jim Ramstad? He would say, leave your ego in the hallway, focus on the needs, focus on what’s important. I think that’s what’s going to happen within the human services bucket this year,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman says balancing the human services budget will require the legislators to look at funding in “innovative ways.” He also urges people to express opposition to federal block grants, which could bring less funding to Minnesota to fund medicaid mandated services, like hospitalization and nursing homes.
“If anyone hears the word block grant and human services, put up a brick wall and say no, not for Minnesota,” said Hoffman. “It does not work well.”
See also: Newsmakers: Sen. John Hoffman Talks Increasing Pay for Providers of Care
