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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
GUEST COLUMN
Gov. Pawlenty revises budget proposal
By State Rep. Paul Anderson
The Governor’s revised budget proposal was released March 17. The revision was necessary because of the influx of federal stimulus funds that will soon be making their way from Washington. Highlights include additional funding for K-12 and higher education, along with keeping short-term offenders in state facilities rather than sending them back to county jails.
The increase in education funding is interesting, especially in light of the Senate Democrats’ proposal earlier in the week to cut nearly $1 billion from education.
Another positive aspect of the Governor’s revised proposal is an increase of $10 million for the state’s court system. Our legal system is being bogged down by overloaded calendars and, if passed, this increase in funding should help to some degree.
There was also an increase of nearly $25 million in property tax aids and credits. I am still awaiting clarification as to exactly where those funds will go.
Sat in on a joint hearing of the Tax Committee and the Property Tax Division March 17, with the topic of discussion being “Green Acres.” The hearing room was full of interested spectators as a parade of farmers and others testified about how last year’s changes to the program had affected them. Well into the evening, when the last witness had finally been heard, it was announced that the several bills pertaining to the subject were still moving through the committee process. It seemed like an anti-climactic ending to the meeting as folks filed quietly out of the room.
With the beautiful weather we’ve enjoyed these past few days, it’s hard to imagine that parts of Minnesota were hit by a blizzard just a few days prior. It also happened to be the day (March 10) for township elections in Minnesota and also a special election in Pope County to fill my position on the County Board. Some townships postponed their meetings, but the special commissioner election could not be postponed.
Pope County Auditor Donna Quandt was in contact with the Secretary of State’s office, and she was informed that there was no provision in statute allowing an election such as that to be postponed. So, the election went on and, as expected because of the extremely bad weather conditions, voter turnout was low.
What makes this situation worse is the fact that several election judges in southwestern Pope County, after closing the polls that night, experienced white-out conditions as they attempted to make their way home. One judge told me that it took her nearly an hour to navigate the three miles from the polling place to her home.
Another car went off the road and, luckily, those judges were able to make it to a nearby church, where they spent the night keeping warm with mission blankets and sleeping on church pew cushions.
Thankfully, the situation turned out OK and all those involved were safe. But, it could have been worse, much worse.
The first thing I did upon returning to St. Paul the following Monday was to contact staff from the House research department. They are in the process of determining if legislation can be drawn up to allow elections such as this to be postponed in a potentially life-threatening situation similar to the one that occurred March 10.
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