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State Representative Jerry Newton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5369
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS AFTER MOST CHALLENGING SESSION IN A GENERATION
ST. PAUL, MN - The Minnesota Legislature adjourned several weeks ago after the most challenging legislative session in a generation. With a quarter of a million Minnesotans out of work, a record $6.4 billion budget shortfall, and the deepest economic recession since 1942, state lawmakers met those challenges with responsible, aggressive solutions. Based on the input of Minnesotans, the House fought to protect jobs, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes - exhausting every available tool and opportunity to prevent irreparable damage to the state’s future.
“From the very beginning the legislature worked hard to address the challenges facing Minnesotans with thoughtful, responsible solutions," said Rep. Jerry Newton (DFL - Coon Rapids). “We passed a balanced budget based on the priorities of Minnesotans, and the best interest of our shared future. Still, the governor refused to compromise. I am deeply disappointed in his decision to go-it-alone, make billions more in painful cuts, and eliminate the jobs and health care of thousands of Minnesotans.”
The legislature consistently offered balanced, sustainable approaches to resolving the deficit that: 1) made responsible, priority-based budget cuts; 2) maximized the use of federal recovery dollars; 3) enacted reform and enhanced accountability; 4) delayed payments to schools to avoid cuts; and 5) relied on moderate, ongoing revenue to minimize job losses and damaging budget cuts to schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
“On more than one occasion, we sent the governor a balanced budget that minimized pain and contributed constructively to Minnesota’s ongoing economic recovery efforts,” said Rep. Newton. “We did our work. We compromised. We met him half-way. But Governor Pawlenty refused to participate in the process, sticking stubbornly to a borrow-and-spend plan that would have put us $1.8 billion in debt for the next 20 years. Minnesota can’t borrow and spend its way out of this economic recession - we need to pay as we go and meet today’s challenges with responsible solutions.”
Governor Pawlenty signed all the budget bills sent to him by the legislature - but vetoed the responsible revenue needed to make the budget balanced. Unfortunately, the governor refused compromise on his plan to 1) borrow $1 billion against future revenues; 2) force property taxes up another $700 million; and 3) eliminate health care and jobs for tens of thousands of Minnesotans to balance the budget.
“Minnesotans should be very concerned the governor has bypassed the legislative process and ignored public input to enact billions more in deep and troubling budget cuts,” Newton said. “It defies our constitution and the civic fabric of our state. There needs to be more than one Minnesotan deciding the fate of our future.”
Three days before the end of session, Governor Pawlenty told lawmakers instead of finding compromise with legislators he would cut billions more from the state budget alone. Using executive unallotment authority, the governor now plans to see his original budget become law without legislative or public input. Unallotment has only been used 5 times in the state’s history (3 times by Governor Pawlenty). The most ever unalloted was $271 million by Governor Pawlenty in December 2008. His plan to unallot $3 billion dwarfs that by a factor of ten.
While the implications of Governor Pawlenty’s unallotment plan are not yet fully understood, Minnesotans saw a glimpse of what the governor plans to cut Thursday night when he eliminated General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) in Minnesota with one line-item veto. This veto cut $381 million from Minnesota hospitals and will result in the loss of 8,000 jobs. It means as much as $17.8 million in cuts to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and the loss of health care for 30,000 of Minnesota’s poorest citizens - many are veterans and senior citizens.
“A devastating $17.8 million cut to Mercy Hospital will have a serious and lasting impact on our community,” Newton said. “Mercy Hospital is Coon Rapids’ second largest employer, and these deep cuts will almost certainly mean significant layoffs - putting even more hard working people out of a job. It is unconscionable to consider what these cuts mean to real Minnesotans; from those who will lose their jobs to those who will lose their health care. Minnesotans expect better and they deserve better.”
Additionally, Governor Pawlenty vetoed a measure that would raise $1 billion in progressive, ongoing tax revenue to minimize cuts to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and Local Government Aid. That revenue would have been raised primarily by moderate income tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans ($9 per month for those making over $250,000 per year) and new taxes on credit card companies that charge excessively high interest rates.
House Democrats attempted to override those vetoes Sunday afternoon. Those attempts failed on party lines with every House Republican voting to support the vetoes.
Other Legislative Items
While he remains concerned about the governor’s plans to unallot, Rep. Newton is pleased that a number of key legislative initiatives he carried on behalf of his constituents became law this session. Those measures include:
• HF715 - Disabled veteran owned businesses designated as targeted group businesses for purposes of awarding certain state and metropolitan agency contracts
• HF1028 - New travel lanes funding provided for U.S. Highway 10 at Hanson Boulevard between Hanson Boulevard and Round Lake Boulevard, bonds issued, and money appropriated
• HF1356 - Free public transit for disabled veterans and current, uniformed active service members
• HF1701 - School district obligations clarified to children with disabilities
• HF2051 - School integration revenue provisions modified
A comprehensive list of bills authored by Rep. Newton can be found online at: www.house.mn/49B.
News Items
- LOCAL LAWMAKERS HELP DELIVER NEEDED RELIEF TO FLOOD, TORNADO VICTIMS - (Posted: 2010-10-19 00:00:00)
- REP. NEWTON STANDS UP FOR SCHOOLS - (Posted: 2010-05-12 00:00:00)
- A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL KIDS TO PLAY - (Posted: 2010-04-21 00:00:00)
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