CPR

Center for Parental Responsibility

P.O. Box 130776 St. Paul, MN 55113 Telephone: 651/490-9277

Website: cpr-mn.org Email: info@cpr-mn.org

August 2003

Legislative Education Notice

Dear ______________________________________ RE: HF 1031/SF 974

AUGUST QUESTIONS:

(1) How is it possible that MN obtained a waiver from the federal government

to prevent poor & needy people from getting welfare services (IV-A: MFIP),

but the DHS refuses to request a waiver to take the wealthy off welfare (IV-D: CSEC)?

(2) If the legislature doesn’t have a duty and a responsibility to the voting citizens to

flush out the truth by questioning the status quo and challenging

the accuracy of the information provided by the DHS,

then which of the 3 branches of government is accountable to the citizens?

REQUESTED RESPONSE:

As concerned taxpayers, interested citizens, and a grass roots group of voting constituents,

we are interested in your position on this issue. Your attention to this matter is requested because

non-partisan citizens of Minnesota are advocating for:

ü Reduced taxpayer subsidies for ineligible applicants

ü Reduced taxpayer expense for unwarranted and unnecessary government programs

ü Maintain welfare services for the needy not the financially self-sufficient

We are appreciative of those who responded to the July letter from CPR. CPR will continue to provide regular Legislative Education Notices, informing the legislature about the need to reconsider HF 1031/SF 974, which has been tabled in the House, due to the DHS self-interest to maintain the status quo and their unwillingness to reform social welfare policy and its costs. The MN House HHS Policy Committee was presented with a dilemma when the DHS testified that “the federal government requires Minnesota give these welfare services to everyone who applies regardless of their income.” Many citizens believe this is an irresponsible and unfounded argument lacking merit and support in both equity and law.

The status quo means that Minnesota citizens are paying excessive federal taxes, excessive state taxes, and unnecessary county property taxes because of the DHS fundamental misinterpretation and misapplication of IV-D welfare services, which take tax dollars from the poor in order to provide services to the financially self-sufficient in no jeopardy of public assistance. In order to pay for the IV-D welfare program, increased property tax levies were required in all 87 counties to pay for IV-D services to those who are ineligible. The NEW Property Tax Levies required to pay for IV-D welfare services for non-welfare recipients cost Hennepin County $6 million extra in FY02, Ramsey County $3 million extra in FY02, and Dakota County $2 million extra in FY02. Call CPR to find out how much the program cost your county. Data is available from the federal government that reveals that this onerous program has improved collections only fractionally in the last 25 years. The IV-D program has failed miserably at the taxpayers expense, due to the erroneous and unlawful expansion of the IV-D services to all citizens regardless of income. Contact CPR for more information.

Name:_________________________________(print) ____________________________________(signature)

Address:___________________________________ City: __________________ , MN Zip: ___________

Phone Number: ____________________________ Email: ____________________________