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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
POST SESSION UPDATE
News From Representative Paul Anderson
Little or no movement has been reported in the budget impasse between the Legislature and Gov. Dayton. A meeting June 2nd of the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy ended with no progress when the Governor wouldn’t allow his commissioners of Revenue and Management and Budget to participate. According to Speaker of the House, Rep. Kurt Zellers, those two commissioners had agreed to testify but a letter received from the Governor hours before the scheduled meeting time nixed that idea.
Governor Dayton had earlier agreed to spending cuts, but so far hasn’t revealed what exactly he would be willing to cut. Also on June 2nd, he requested that an outside mediator step in to help resolve the budget deficit. At this point, I don’t think the people of this state expect that we should out-source these tough decisions. We are required to get this job done, and the Legislature is here, ready and willing to negotiate and reach an agreement.
While coming up with a budget solution has been the top priority, there have been other bills passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Dayton. Among them is a bill that will help nursing homes cut down on paper work by combining state and federal reporting forms for resident admission. Another bill provides immunity for school districts that make their facilities available for recreational use by members of the public.
Among the bigger bills signed by the Gov. is the Tax Policy Bill, authored by Tax Committee Chairman Greg Davids. Modifications are made to Minnesota estate tax in response to federal legislation that re-enacted the estate tax for 2010. The bill also states that horse breeding, training or boarding farms are an intensive agricultural use that may be accomplished on limited acreage.
A change was also made to the Gold Star license plate program. Under current law, eligibility is limited to the surviving spouse and parents of a veteran who died while serving in active military service. The new legislation expands that eligibility to include the siblings of a deceased service-member.
Sincerely,
Paul
News Items
- Still no budget as session winds down - (Posted: May 10 2013 12:00AM)
- MUCH WORK REMAINS IN SESSION’S WANING WEEKS - (Posted: May 6 2013 12:00AM)
- Results of online survey are telling - (Posted: May 3 2013 12:00AM)
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