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State Representative Michael Beard
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8872
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
GUEST COLUMN
Reform a Priority in 2012
St. Paul – The 2012 legislative session convened yesterday, marking the second year of the biennium for the 87th session of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
We head into the new year with cautious optimism. The good news is that the economy is starting to perk up ever so slightly. Thanks to hard working Minnesotans, additional tax receipts coming into St. Paul amount to an $876 million surplus.
That doesn’t necessarily mean we have extra money to spend. As we balanced the budget last year we placed in law a requirement that, if the new budget yielded a surplus, we must first refill the cash-flow account and budget reserve (our “rainy day fund”), and then repay the school shift before the money can be spent on anything else. I think this is prudent fiscal management, which is as it should be.
The Legislature faced a historic $5 billion deficit last year. After much debate, the budget was balanced through accommodation with the governor, without raising any statewide taxes, and while laying a foundation for future reforms.
My colleagues and I recognize that in order to promote and sustain this economic uptick, job growth and economic development in the private sector must be our top priority. We can no longer afford to lose businesses to other states or allow barriers that obstruct job creation. A central part of our effort is Reform 2.0.
We call it Reform 2.0 because it builds on previous reform initiatives. The plan – developed by Minnesotans, for Minnesotans – includes incentives to spur job growth and entrepreneurial innovation, aggressive strategies to close the education achievement gap, and proposals to restructure and streamline state government. I invite you to view a list of these bill proposals at http://reform2.mn.
For my part,
• I will continue to support, and advocate for passage, legislation authorizing racino at Canterbury Park. Racino will provide enormous benefit to the entire agricultural economy and to our local businesses.
• Senator Robling (R-Jordan) and I will continue our work with MnDOT to upgrade the Highway 101 crossing.
• I have authored a bill that will protect suburban transit operators from the budgetary whipsaw of the Metropolitan Council.
• I have proposed legislation that would disallow MnDOT to shut down existing work and highway contracts should there ever be a budgetary impasse.
I had the pleasure of meeting Boy Scout Troop #218 from Shakopee at the Capitol this week. Senator Robling and I had a great visit with this group of promising young men.
I thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts regarding Reform 2.0 or the 2012 legislative session. I can be reached at 651-296-8872 or by e-mail at rep.mike.beard@house.mn.
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- State Budget Round Two: Increased taxes, spending on the horizon - (Posted: May 3 2013 10:27AM)
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