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State Representative Tina Liebling
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0573
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
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HOUSE AND SENATE PASS FINAL BUDGET BILLS, ADJOURN ON TIME
ST. PAUL – After nearly five months and marathon final sessions, the Minnesota Legislature finished the state budget bills on time for the first time in eight years as the clock approached the midnight adjournment deadline.
Commenting on key accomplishments of the session, Assistant Majority Leader Tina Liebling said, "Our budget reflects our shared Minnesota values, and we've done it on time," said, Assistant Majority Leader Tina Liebling. "However, reversing the damage of previous budgets will take more than one year."
Bills to fund E-12, higher education, and health care passed as members of the House kept a close eye on the clock. Legislation funding the environment, energy, public safety, agriculture and veterans issues passed earlier in the session.
In addition to the budget bill, the session also produced a number of key policy initiatives, including the “Freedom to Breathe Act", a nation-leading renewable energy bill and groundbreaking energy policy.
"This budget means more kids will have health insurance, our schools will get some long-overdue stability, and our environment will be cleaner," said Liebling.
K-12 schools will see an increase on funding of nearly $800 million dollars in new state funding. The bill funds a broad range of provisions for the state's youngest learners through its high school graduates. It makes voluntary all-day Kindergarten available to more children and restores funding for early childhood, Head Start and School Readiness. It also focuses increasing high school achievement with expanded gifted and talented programs, AP and IB course offerings and increased world language offerings. Unlike education bills of past years, the bill provides state funding that is not dependent on property tax increases.
"The comprehensive education strengthens the foundation of school funding and takes significant steps toward making voluntary all-day Kindergarten available to more students across the state," said Liebling. "It also makes strategic investments in our youngest learners with funding for important early childhood programs, while increasing high school rigor."
Rep. Liebling also expressed enthusiasm for the high priority energy and environmental issues took during the session.
"The energy policy bill we passed is groundbreaking in its scope," said Liebling. "It focuses on three key areas: Efficiency and Conservation, Community-based Energy Development, and Global Warming Mitigation. Like the nation-leading renewable energy standard we passed earlier this session, this bill has a long-term vision for changing the way we produce and distribute energy, and poises Minnesota to take advantage tremendous economic development opportunities in the new energy economy."
Liebling did express disappointment that a signature bill to provide significant property tax relief to 99% of Minnesota homeowners was vetoed by Governor Pawlenty.
"One of our major goals this session was significant and permanent property tax relief, " said Liebling. "The Governor insists he's opposed to raising taxes, but his own budget proposal included a $500 million property tax hike. His refusal to come to help middle-class Minnesotans has to be one of the biggest disappointments of the session."
"Overall, I'm satisfied with the gains we made this session, " continued Liebling. "We passed a reasonable and responsible budget that ensures Minnesota is back on track, and equally important, we did it on time for the first time in eight years, just as voters asked us to do when they sent us to St. Paul."
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News Items
- Rep. Tina Liebling Named Chair of House Health and Human Services Policy Committee - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Statement on DEED Bonding Project Announcement - (Posted: 2012-09-13 00:00:00)
- Local Legislators to Hold Town Hall Meeting - (Posted: 2012-07-19 00:00:00)
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