1. On Thursday, February 3, 2005 there will be a Press Conference at that Capitol at 11:00 a.m. in room 123. The press conference will introduce Senate File 254, which repeals two of the biggest and worst welfare cuts in the history of Minnesota:

The $125 per person, per month MFIP grant cut to families with disabled family members (this is often called the "SSI Penalty" of the "125 Cut") and it also repeals the $50 per Month MFIP grant cut to families in Subsidized housing.

The bill also undoes other serious cuts passed in 2003: Undoes the Medical Assistance liens being put on the property of seniors or terminally ill families who have to use Medical Assistance. Finally, the bill also reduces the parental fees for families who use TEFRA to pay for health care and services for their disable children-fees and income restrictions that rose astronomically because of the cuts that where past in the 2003 Legislative Session.

This bill is funded by getting rid of a corporate tax loopholes which have allowed corporations that do business in Minnesota, get out of paying MN taxes, because they have a plaque on the wall in another state or a foreign country.

2. Also on that same day February 3, 2005 Senate File 254 will have a hearing in the Health and Family Security Committee at 12:00 noon in Room G15 at the Capitol. Members of WRC will be testifying.

Come and stand with the Welfare Rights Committee and many members of the community to FUND HUMAN NEED NOT CORPORATE GREED.

Notes: SF254 is sponsored by Senators Berglin (D-Mpls), Pogemiller (D-Mpls), Dean Johnson (D-Willmar), Lourey (D-Kerrick) and Koering (R-Fort Ripley). It will soon be introduced in the House.