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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
DELIVERING ON THE BASICS
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned May 18, after what is being called one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent memory. We delivered on the basics, providing (1) meaningful health care reform; (2) increased funding for K-12 schools; (3) significant property tax relief, and (4) a job stimulating bonding bill with statewide impact. The Legislature also secured major movement on transportation, passed ground breaking environmental and energy policy, stabilized higher education tuition, and delivered long-overdue funding increases for Minnesota nursing homes.
These achievements didn't come easy. More than 40 states, including Minnesota, faced serious budget shortfalls this year due to lower than expected revenues from our nation's recent economic downturn. But by working together in a bipartisan manner, Minnesota lawmakers met the challenge of balancing our $935 million budget deficit without raising taxes. By carefully trimming programs across the board, making responsible use of the state's budget reserves, and closing tax loopholes being exploited by foreign offshore corporations, we were able to resolve the budget shortfall in a fair and fiscally prudent manner.
More than balancing the state's budget for the short-term, we focused on making Minnesota's economy stronger. Public improvement efforts included in this year's transportation and capital investment bills created over 40,000 new jobs in Minnesota. An initiative I authored will help new immigrants and refugees in Rochester train effectively for success in the workforce. This Lifetrack job skills program is proven to get new residents into solid, good-paying jobs in our community and become self sufficient by getting off state welfare programs.
The investments we make in human capital today will pay dividends for the economic vitality of our state for years to come. That's why we worked hard this session to improve higher education and economic development efforts statewide. Tuition increases were held to a ten-year low, and over seventy percent of this year's bonding bill was directed to higher education improvements, research and development in new and emerging industries, and job training efforts across the state. As vice-chair of the House Biosciences and Emerging Technologies Committee, I partnered with business leaders and fellow lawmakers to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation to give Minnesota a competitive edge in attracting and creating the good-paying jobs of tomorrow.
Investments in education pay off for everybody - our students, our communities, and our state's overall economy. We were able to provide K-12 schools an additional $51 per pupil increase in 2009. This funding is critical in providing our students access to a world-class education in an increasingly competitive 21st Century economy. To help our schools adapt appropriately to the changing demographics of our state, lawmakers approved a measure I carried this year to create a new Teachers of Color pilot program through Winona State and St. Cloud State University’s by encouraging students of color to pursue careers in education. If the program is successful, it could be implemented statewide.
Nation-leading health care reform was achieved this session after over ten months of innovative, bipartisan cooperation aimed at creating real solutions to the many problems facing our health care system. We made health care more affordable, provided access to coverage for an additional 100,000 uninsured Minnesotans including 30,000 children, and implemented new preventative care measures that will help curb the frequency of costly chronic diseases. Our investment in a statewide public health improvement program targeted at obesity and tobacco use should also decrease health care costs over time. An initiative I authored will help eliminate administrative waste by streamlining the billing process. Overall, health care efforts at the Capitol this session will make our state a better, healthier, and more affordable place to live.
Achievements made in transportation this session were long overdue. 20 years of under-funding has left the state $2.4 billion behind every year in maintaining our current transportation system. But Minnesota lawmakers came together this session to provide essential resources for the construction and maintenance of safe roads and bridges in our state. The City of Rochester will receive an additional $9.4 million for transportation over the next ten years. Olmsted County will benefit from another $22.5 million.
More than providing adequate resources for safe transportation infrastructure, the Legislature improved safety behind the wheel. I authored a bill that passed this session enacting a new Graduated Drivers License (GDL) standard for all new teen drivers in Minnesota. 46 other states already have such standards in place and have seen up to a 40 percent decrease in fatal traffic accidents involving teenagers. Additionally, text messaging and emailing will not longer be allowed for all drivers.
Many property taxpayers will receive much-needed relief this year, as the legislature addressed the $2 billion increases since 2003. This session's tax bill will provide $25 million in direct relief to those who need it most, boost local government and county aid by $60 million, and implement new levy limits at 3.9 percent (indexed for inflation). If nothing was done to address the problem, property taxes were slated to increase another half billion dollars this year.
It has been an honor to serve our community in the Legislature. Please contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns you have on any issue by phone at (651) 296-9249 or by email at rep.kim.norton@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you this summer.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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