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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Ben Schweigert 651-296-5809
Column/LTE
At Session’s Midpoint, Atkins and Hansen Optimistic
The most impressive aspect of the Legislative session so far has been the significant bipartisanship that has been displayed. With the session half over, there have been no long, drawn out battles on divisive issues. Instead, both sides deserve credit for working together to get the job done for the people of Minnesota.
One of the biggest achievements of the first half of the session was that both the House and Senate have already passed bonding bills that are now being reconciled. While differences remain, the most striking thing about the process was the overwhelming bipartisan support that the bills received.
The bill included several significant projects for northern Dakota County. Funding was provided for classrooms at Inver Hill Community College, where the number of students has grown by 37% since 2000. Money was also made available to reclaim the former Port Crosby landfill in South St. Paul and turn it into parkland. Finally, grants were established for open space preservation and flood mitigation along the Mississippi in Inver Grove Heights.
For the most part, the bipartisanship and pragmatism that have characterized the bonding process have been the rule for the whole session. The Legislature has been focused on education, transportation, health care, and jobs: the issues that Minnesotans say are the most important to their lives.
Making the situation easier is that the economy in Minnesota is finally showing signs of renewed growth after several tough years. Last year the state created 25% more jobs than were expected, and the February budget forecast showed state revenues over $200 million ahead of earlier estimates. While this is all encouraging, there are signs of weakness. The state lost 5,600 jobs in January, and the budget deficit is still $1.1 billion if inflation is included. The Legislature needs to stay focused on the key issues our state faces and make the investments we need in order to ensure that our economy continues to recover.
In addition to the central issue of bonding, several bills that each of us sponsored have passed through House committees and been recommended to pass when they come to the House floor. One such bill, by Representative Atkins, would prevent sex offenders from being granted custody of unrelated children. Another would toughen penalties for selling steroids in Minnesota, particularly for the sale of these illegal drugs to kids, and a third would add criminal penalties for those engaged in spamming. A bill by Representative Hansen to streamline county government similarly passed through committee and will be going to the House floor, and we are optimistic that another, protecting wetlands and waterfowl by regulating drainage, will pass as well.
The second half of the legislative session is likely to be dominated by the issue of the state budget, and there are good reasons to be optimistic that the collaborative spirit will continue. We have been able to work with people on both sides of the aisle on the central issues that we have been stressing this year: education, health care, and jobs. We are hopeful, therefore, that the upcoming state budgeting process will be used as an opportunity to make the right investments for the State of Minnesota and that the budget will not be held hostage by bickering and partisan rhetoric.
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