Accessibility menu
State Representative Leon Lillie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1188
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
PROGRESS MADE FOR MINNESOTANS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
Last week was full of long sessions on the House floor stretching sometimes until dawn. After several days of lively, compelling, and lengthy debate, we have passed most of our large finance bills in the House. These bills are delivering for all Minnesotans on important issues including K-12 education, health care, public safety, veterans' affairs, environment and energy reform, and more. I am very pleased with the work we have done thus far, and am hopeful these bills will be signed into law this session.
To keep you up to date on the progress we have achieved in the House thus far this session, I have provided a summary below of a few of the bills passed on the House floor this week. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about these issues, or any other matter, I encourage you to contact me at my office. I look forward to hearing from you.
E-12 EDUCATION (vote: 119 to 13) I voted YES.
The bulk of the proposed $919 million package gives a 3% increase in base funding for 2008 and 2009, $95 million for voluntary all-day Kindergarten, and $106 million to reduce the gap in unmet special education costs that have eaten into school's general funds. It provides $152 million for a combination of technology upgrades, innovation and reform proposals, gifted and talented programs, Limited English Proficiency programs, and funding for school libraries. The bill also provides $125 million in significant property tax relief by buying down local school levies, and addresses the growing problem of declining enrollment that many districts face.
If the Governor signs the bill into law, it will provide the following benefits for the residents of District 55A:
· $8.6 million in additional base funding for North St. Paul School District #622
· $4.3 million in additional base funding for Roseville School District #623
· $1.1 million in school levy relief for North St. Paul School District #622
· $800,000 in school levy relief for Roseville School District #623
PUBLIC SAFETY (vote: 96 to 34) I voted YES.
This legislation takes huge steps in creating a more effective criminal justice system while providing more support to crime victims and crime prevention initiatives. The bill significantly speeds up the state's court system by funding 9 new judge units and creating 10 new drug courts. It also funds innovative reentry programs to reduce the number of repeat offenders and provides property tax relief at the local level by increasing reimbursements to local and regional governments for housing short-term offenders.
Other highlights of the legislation include more protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence and stronger protections for children against Internet predators, requirements for insurance companies to act in good faith when handling claims, increased funding for youth intervention programs, and more.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY (vote: 95 to 38) I voted YES.
This bill lays the groundwork for the state to increase its ability to respond to a number of key emerging environmental initiatives within the biennium. It includes $10.9 million appropriated to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for the Clean Water Legacy Act, $2 million increase in the Governor's request for several new invasive species programs, $750,000 appropriated to the Pollution Control Agency to monitor and analyze endocrine disruptors, $550,000 transferred to the Health Department to protect our drinking water, $3 million appropriated to maintain state and metro trails that have suffered years of neglected funding, $400,000 to construct ring dikes to protect against flooding from the Red River, and more.
Perhaps most encouraging was the bill's commitment to moving our state forward on energy reform initiatives by investing in research for biofuels and other renewable energy sources. This will keep our state at the forefront of the renewable energy industry of the 21st Century.
VETERANS' AFFAIRS (vote: 131 to 2) I voted YES
This bill increases veterans' affairs funding by 91% - mindful of the 3,000 Minnesotans currently on active duty in Iraq who will be returning this spring. Highlights of the veterans' bill include funding for suicide prevention and psychological support for returning combat veterans, a 14 % increase in funding for the State Soldier Assistance Program, increased funding for Veterans County Service Officer assistance grants to enhance programs provided to veterans, increased funding for Veteran's outreach, extension of education benefits for the spouses of soldiers killed in action, assistance for WWII memorial celebration (June 9th).
These bills will now go to conference committees in which members of the House and Senate will iron out the differences between their plans before the bills are sent back to the floors of both bodies for a final vote. The legislation will then be sent to the Governor for final approval.
News Items
- SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS AND STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOODS - (Posted: 2012-03-01 00:00:00)
- Email Update -- Feb. 16, 2012 - (Posted: 2012-02-16 00:00:00)
- 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW - (Posted: 2012-01-26 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.