[Fmhc] Action Alert!! Renter's Credit at risk

[Michael Carbone]

Coalition Members,

I am forwarding this information from the Minnesota Budget Project. Governor
Pawlenty is pushing for what amounts to a tax increase on Minnesota's
poorest citizens. I have called Lanning, Langseth and Marquardt. Only
Langseth has returned the call so far, and he does not support the idea but
is frustrated by the governor's refusal to allow any tax increases unless
they are disguised like this one. Please add your voice to the opposition to
this cut in the renter's credit before it makes it to the floor of the house
and senate in the form of legislation. Nan Madden, from the MN Budget
Project, tells me that Marquardt is who we should be most concerned about
getting the message to. Minnesota must balance its budget, but not on the
backs of its lowest income citizens.

*If any of you speak with Lanning be sure to thank him for his work on the
Police/Outreach Worker Partnership legislation.*

Information from the Minnesota Budget Project:

*Renters at Risk in Budget Debate
*The Governor has proposed cutting the Renters' Credit by 21%. The Renters'
Credit helps over 271,000 low- and moderate-income Minnesota households who
have high housing costs, many of them seniors and people with disabilities.
The Legislature is making decisions right now about how to solve the state's
budget deficit – and they must hear from Minnesotans that they should not
accept the Governor's proposal to cut the renters' credit. There are three
simple things you can do TODAY to protect Minnesotans from this cut:
Please see the action alert below and make a couple of calls to members of
the tax committee and legislative leadership. Let Nan Madden know any
feedback you receive at 651-642-1904 ext. 230 or nan at mncn.org.
If you represent an organization, please join the Minnesota Budget Project
in a sign-on letter opposing the cuts.
Pass this email along to your allies and networks.
When the Governor proposed a similar cut in 2005, a coalition of over 160
organizations from across the state united in opposition and was successful
in defeating the cuts to the Renters' Credit. We can do that again this
year, but we need your help! If you need additional information about the
renters' credit, please visit www.mncn.org/bp/renterscredit.htm.

*ACTION ALERT:* *Call TODAY to Oppose 21% Cut in Renters' Credit
*The Renters' Credit is an important tool for tax fairness in Minnesota. It
provides an average credit of $536 to over 271,000 low- and moderate-income
households with high housing costs. Of the households receiving the Renters'
Credit, 29% include seniors and/or people with severe disabilities.
In his budget, Governor Pawlenty proposes to cut the Renters' Credit by 21%.
The average credit would be cut by $119.
The Governor's budget asks low-income people, persons with disabilities,
seniors and other vulnerable populations to shoulder too much of the
responsibility for solving the state's budget deficit. The Legislature must
take a different path.
The Legislature is making decisions right now about how they will solve the
state's budget shortfall. They must hear from Minnesotans: Reject the
Governor's proposal to cut the Renters' Credit.
If your Senator or Representative is on the tax committee, please call him
or her. Otherwise, please call the chairs of the tax committee and
legislative leadership. If you are not sure who represents you in the
Minnesota legislature, find out at
http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html.

*House Tax Committee:*
Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski, 296-4218
Joe Atkins, 296-4192
Laura Brod, 296-4229
Lyndon Carlson, 296-4255
Jim Davnie, 296-0173
Chris DeLaForest, 296-4231
Randy Demmer, 296-9236
David Dill, 296-2190
Ron Erhardt, 296-4363
Debra Hilstrom, 296-3709
Mike Jaros, 296-4246
Lyle Koenen, 296-4346
Paul Kohls, 296-4282
Morrie Lanning, 296-5515
John Lesch, 296-4224
Tina Liebling, 296-0573
Paul Marquart, 296-6829
Joe Mullery, 296-4262
Erik Paulsen, 296-7449
Tom Rukavina, 296-0170
Loren Solberg, 296-2365
Cy Thao, 296-5158
Tom Tillberry, 296-5510
Kurt Zellers, 296-5502

*Senate Tax Committee:
*Chair: Tom Bakk, Cook, 296-8881
Scott Dibble, Minneapolis, 296-4191
Debbie Johnson, Ham Lake, 296-3219
Keith Langseth, Glyndon, 296-3205
Dan Larson, Bloomington, 297-8061
Warren Limmer, Maple Grove, 296-2159
John Marty, Roseville, 296-5645
Mee Moua, St. Paul, 296-5285
Julianne Ortman, Chanhassen, 296-4837
Larry Pogemiller, Minneapolis, 296-7809
David Senjem, Rochester, 296-3903
Katie Sieben, Newport, 297-8060
Rod Skoe, Clearbrook, 296-4196

*House and Senate Leadership:*
Speaker of the House: Representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher, 296-0171
Senate Majority Leader: Senator Larry Pogemiller, Minneapolis, 296-7809
All phone numbers are (651) area code.
For additional information on the Renters' Credit, please see
www.mncn.org/bp/renterscredit.htm or contact Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget
Project, 651-642-1904 ext. 230, nan at mncn.org

Stay warm and dry,
-- 
Michael Carbone
Executive Director
FM Coalition for Homeless Persons
P.O. Box 862
Moorhead MN 56561
701-364-2697 office
701-232-2590 fax


THE MISSION of the Fargo Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons is to
increase access to services for people facing homelessness and provide
homeless awareness, education and advocacy in the FM area.

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