JRLC e-Xpress April 23

The legislature begins its sprint to the finish. Three key events each with an action component:

Monday April 26th
What: Bear witness to the release of the House Human Services Budget
When: 12:15pm on Monday April 26, 2010
Where: Outside room 200 in the State Office Building
Why: Stand together with those who depend on General Assistance and MFIP, to ensure that our legislature does not balance the budget on the backs of the poor.
Action: Join us on Monday for the budget release and, later, a committee hearing.
Background: Will the House echo cuts in the Governor's budget? Cuts to GA and MFIP could damage what is left of the safety net – especially for low wage workers who do not qualify for unemployment insurance or have access to short or long-term disability, family medical leave or paid sick leave. Read more here.

Also on Monday April 26th
What: House Civil Justice Committee Hearing on HF 224, Impartial Judiciary Bill
When: 9:30am on Monday April 26, 2010
Where: Room 10 State Office Building
Why: To keep Minnesota's court system and judges free of special interest money and partisan campaigning.
Action: Contact Civil Justice Committee members, especially if you are a constituent! Use email or leave a voice message on their office phone before Monday morning. Ask committee members to support HF 224 (Simon).
Background: Join us and our coalition partners to pack the hearing room. Read more here.

Tuesday April 27th
What: Hearing on HF 3044, Tax Compliance and Closing Tax Loopholes for Foreign Operating Corporations
When: 10:30am on Tuesday April 27, 2010
Where: Room 10 State Office Building
Why: To raise needed revenues to stave off the worst of the budget cuts.
Action: Contact House Tax Committee members, especially if you are a constituent! Use email or call their office before Tuesday morning. Ask committee members to support HF 3044 (Hornstein).
Background: Without new revenue critical services will be lost and most of the pain will be inflicted on people with little political power. HF 3044 proposes to tax corporate profits earned overseas the same as profits earned domestically, thus closing loopholes and ending subsidies for moving operations overseas. More resources here.