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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I would like to invite everyone to a virtual town hall Rep. Drew Stokesbary and I will be hosting this Saturday, Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m. You will need to register to attend this event. You can do so by clicking here, on the photo below, or by visiting my website RepresentativeEricRobertson.com and clicking on the drop-down on my homepage. If you'd like to submit a question before the event, please email my Legislative Assistant, Meagan Hillier. I look forward to 'seeing' everyone on Saturday!
There's still time to take the survey!
There are many hot topics facing the Legislature this session. I would like to know what you believe the Legislature should be focusing our efforts on during the short 60-days we are in session. You can share your thoughts in this brief survey by clicking on this link. Thank you!
In this e-newsletter, I would like to provide an update on a significant issue before the Legislature this session – the controversial long-term care insurance program and payroll tax.
While the majority party continues passing tax increases and punitive policies that make daily life more expensive, House Republicans are advocating for tax relief and policies to help alleviate financial burdens for struggling families, students, small business owners, and the most vulnerable. This includes repealing and/or replacing the unpopular, insolvent, and inadequate long-term care insurance program and payroll tax.
On Jan. 19, House Republicans ran two procedural motions on the House floor to relieve the House Appropriations Committee of House Bills 1594 and 1913 and bring them to the House floor for debate. If these motions would have been accepted, they would have made these Republican alternatives eligible for consideration by the House.
My seatmate, Rep. Drew Stokesbary, lead the charge for this motion. To watch his remarks on the House floor, defending our position, please click here.
House Bill 1594 sought a full repeal of the program and payroll tax. House Bill 1913 would have repealed and replaced the current program by making long-term care insurance affordable for those who want it, but optional for those who don't, without imposing a payroll tax on anyone.
We believe our motions brought transparency to the process. We put on record that other alternatives and solutions to fixing this disastrous mess were not being considered. Unfortunately, our efforts were rejected on party lines.
We did vote on House Bill 1732, which I supported. This bill will delay the long-term care insurance program and payroll tax by 18 months, hopefully giving the Legislature more time to unwind and improve this unwanted program.
For more information:
- Repealing the unpopular long-term care insurance program and regressive payroll tax
- House Republicans to push for votes on bills to repeal and replace the long-term care insurance program
- Comment on House Bill 1574: Repealing the long-term care insurance and payroll tax
- Comment on House Bill 1913: Repeal and replacing the long-term care insurance program and payroll tax with affordable and optional long-term care insurance coverage.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas regarding your state government, or any of the topics in this e-newsletter, please don't hesitate to get in touch with my office. You can find my contact information at the bottom of this email.
It's an honor to serve you.
In your service,
Eric Robertson
