Accessibility menu
State Representative Andrew Falk
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4228
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
OUT IN THE OPEN
This week, riots erupted in Egypt – unrest fueled by an out-of-touch government unresponsive to the needs of its people. As the world’s attention turned to Egypt in recent days, I couldn’t help but be thankful that despite the sometimes toxic political climate in our country, that the principles of open, transparent government are still alive and well in the United States.
An open government is an honest government. When our elected leaders share information and encourage broad participation in the legislative process, we build public trust and hold our decisions accountable to the voters who asked us to lead. Transparency is a fundamental guiding principle of our democracy, and a cornerstone of government efficiency. As your state representative, it’s something I take very seriously.
That’s why I am concerned about the way things have been going in the Minnesota Legislature these last several weeks. Since the new Republican majority took charge of the House of Representatives, opportunity for public testimony and access to basic information about what the legislature is doing has severely eroded.
There is no better example than the case of a bill (HF130) passed this week – legislation that would raise property taxes $300 million, cut $185 million from state colleges and universities, and eliminate millions in reintegration funding for Minnesota National Guard troops returning home from active duty. The bill has hop-scotched through the committee process with little opportunity for public input, and was passed yesterday even though legislators didn’t fully understand the impact it will have on our schools, communities, and economy.
Normally, before a bill reaches the House floor for a final vote, it is first considered by every committee with jurisdiction over the areas that bill impacts. Not so with HF130.
For instance, the bill cuts state aid to local governments by almost $500 million, which according to Minnesota Management and Budget would raise property taxes roughly $300 million. But it was never heard in the Property Tax Committee. Republicans in charge bypassed the committee, and the bill’s impact on local property taxes was never formally discussed. Local governments with concerns about the legislation didn’t have the opportunity to make their case to state lawmakers.
Similarly, the bill would freeze wages for 42,000 state employees. Regardless of whether the pay freeze is a good or bad idea, the impact on state employees should have been discussed. Those affected should have had the chance to discuss their concerns with legislators. But the new Republican Majority, in a rush to pass the bill, bypassed the State Government Operations Committee and sent it to the floor instead.
As your state representative, I know that I care more about the legislative process than most people. But even if you don’t care if public testimony was allowed on a particular bill, you should be concerned when the legislators in charge don’t even know the full impact of the bills they are passing.
For instance, the bill cuts $185 million from state colleges and universities. But when asked what impact the bill would have on individual campuses like Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Canby, the chair of the Higher Education Committee had no idea. Later, he provided no information for legislators as to how much funding local colleges would lose if the bill was passed.
Most concerning is that the bill called for $200 million in “unspecified" cuts. The author of the bill told reporters that Governor Mark Dayton would have to make those cuts with any state funds that hadn’t been spent yet this fiscal year. But a report from the state’s nonpartisan Department of Management and Budget showed that much of the money left unspent so far this year is slated to pay for reintegration assistance for National Guard service members returning home from active duty. No one knew that until just a few days before the bill was passed, and it was never heard by the Veterans Services Committee.
In the end, I voted against HF130 for a number of reasons – to protect college students from more tuition increases, to stop $300 million in higher property taxes, and to preserve funding for our National Guard soldiers. But I also voted against the bill because I believe Minnesotans deserve a more open, transparent legislative process. People ought to know what their lawmakers are doing, and they should have ample opportunities to weigh-in. That wasn’t the case with this bill.
I want to know what you think about the issues we are discussing at the Capitol – and I want to hear your thoughts on the legislative process. Throughout the session, I need your input. Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.
Andrew Falk
State Representative
District 20A
(651) 296-4228
rep.andrew.falk@house.mn
News Items
- HOUSE APPROVES ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES & AG BUDGET - (Posted: May 20 2013 3:05PM)
- House approves HHS budget that saves $50 million through reforms - (Posted: May 17 2013 12:00AM)
- HOUSE PASSES HIGHER EDUCATION BILL FREEZE TO TUITION, INCREASE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF U of M and MnSCU SPENDING - (Posted: May 17 2013 12:00AM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.