This letter responds to Allen Moe from Dawson about my vote and his view of a version of the 2005 Human Services bill.
Mr. Moe, of course I voted against the House Republican bill version. It cut 27,000 Minnesotans off their health care, cut payments to hospitals by $157 million, and cut services for disabled people by $57 million. And the cut list goes on. I voted for the final bill that did not cut these services and kept people on MinnesotaCare, most of which are from rural Minnesota. Mr. Moe's letter is an untruthful attack that does not tell the whole story.
This distorted letter writing behavior has become way too typical in late-October of an election year.I've never been attacked with such one-sided and false letters since being elected. And I think readers will reject these false claims. But I believe readers need both sides of the story.
I represent the most nursing homes of any representative in the Minnesota House. I support nursing homes and wouldn't vote to cut money from hospitals that is vital for good senior care. And Mr. Moe did not mention that I continue to work on getting rid of the $2,000 tax on seniors entering nursing homes. In 2005, I saw House Republican Speaker Steve Sviggum strong-arm several representatives on the House floor into voting against the amendment to get rid of this hidden tax on seniors. Unfortunately, he succeeded and seniors continue to pay it. I will continue working against balancing the budget on the backs of senior citizens.
Aaron Peterson
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State Representative
DFL - Appleton
District 20A
