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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
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The 2012 Legislative Session — A Mix of the Good and Bad
The 2012 Legislative Session is a perfect example of what the legislature can achieve when we truly work together, but also as an example of how little positive action happens when legislators act in a partisan fashion and in purely politically calculated maneuvers.
In the instances where we worked together, we were able to pass a strategic and targeted bonding bill, a Vikings Stadium bill, raised teacher standards, increase protections for vulnerable adults and children, speed up the environmental permitting process, and increase penalties for violators of Minnesota’s Aquatic Invasive Species Law.
We all came here this session with a goal of job creation and the bonding bill and Vikings bill will create jobs. Public infrastructure across our entire state is crumbling and the bonding bill will start work on our huge backlog of worthwhile projects. State investment in our infrastructure is crucial for economic growth, both now and for the future.
The Vikings Stadium bill will keep the team in Minnesota, will create 8,000 jobs through the construction process, and 3,400 jobs after the stadium is up-and-running.
I said time and time again that job creation was my top priority and that it was time to put politics aside and work together to pass a meaningful jobs bill for Minnesota. I was proud to stand on the House floor and vote for Minnesota jobs, and as long as I’m your state representative, I’ll continue to do so every chance that I get.
Last session, I was the chief author of a new law designed to combat these Aquatic Invasive Species. While the law was an excellent start, I believed that more needed to be done. To that effect, I added an amendment to the Environmental Policy bill on the House floor that will increase penalties for people who are contributing to the spread of these invasive species. The amendment stayed on the bill, which was signed by Governor Dayton.
This session, I successfully forged a compromise and secured funding for the Mississippi River Northwoods Project. This project would purchase 2,200 acres of land and 2 miles of waterways on the Mississippi River for multi-recreational use and conservation for future generations. The project has strong bipartisan legislative support, support from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, and folks in our area as well.
I’m deeply concerned about the partisan gridlock and misplaced priorities that seemed to grip the State Capitol. Last year, an unwillingness to compromise led to the longest government shutdown in state history. The final budget — which I did not support — borrowed record amounts from our school children, eliminated the Homestead Tax Credit, and, for the first time ever, engaged our state in Washington-style deficit spending through the use of tobacco bonds.
This session, the legislature was again distracted by misplaced priorities. Rather than helping middle-class Minnesotans, we spent time on controversial constitutional amendments, ignored repeated efforts to pass a comprehensive jobs plan, failed to pay back our school kids, and ignored the pleas of Minnesotans whose property taxes skyrocketed this year.
Despite a $370 million increase in property tax hikes from the elimination of the Homestead Credit, I was disappointed that legislature did not pass any middle class tax relief this session. There is no question – property taxes are too high and must be lowered. Restoration of the Homestead Credit is a best method for property tax relief and why I have co-authored a bill to bring it back. Instead, the majority chose to pursue corporate property tax cuts initially at the expense of Minnesota renters, then by not paying for it at all.
Unfortunately, we have ended another session without accomplishing enough on the issues that truly matter to Minnesotans. We still have a big deficit next year, our kids are still owed billions, folks are struggling to find good-paying jobs, and property taxes are still through the roof.
Beyond that, I’m concerned that we’ve developed a clear values deficit. Protecting big corporations is not a Minnesota value or priority. A rigid refusal to work together to get things done is not the Minnesota way and shouldn’t be treated as a virtue. The right approach is to work together, with a focus on what we have in common. Minnesota has always been strongest when we worked together; focused on strong schools, fair taxes, and a growing middle class.
It has been and continues to be an honor to serve you in the Minnesota House. I look forward to being able to spend more time in the district and please continue to contact me with your questions, comments, and opinions about this year’s legislative session.
News Items
- 2013 Legislative Session Preview - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 8:39AM)
- Assistant Majority Leader Rep. John Ward Sworn-In as Legislative Session Starts - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 2:39PM)
- Rep. John Ward Elected Assistant Majority Leader and Selected to Serve as Vice Chair of Capital Investment Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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