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State Representative Kurt Daudt
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5364
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
HOUSE BRIEFS
Governor Dayton Vetoes K-12 Shift Repayment
Hello Neighbors,
Earlier today Governor Dayton vetoed a bill that would’ve paid back all of last year’s K-12 education shift increase. The bill also would have made the first ever repayment toward the $2 billion education shift leftover from previous Legislatures. In doing this he made the decision to hold onto the state’s entire $1 billion cash balance account while schools across the state are forced to borrow money from banks.
This measure was a matter of economic responsibility and proper prioritization. After learning from that the state has a $1.2 billion total budget surplus for the current biennium, the response from many members of the Legislature was to use some of that money to pay back the school shift. After all, if a family pays all of their bills and finds they still have money leftover, shouldn’t they use whatever money they can to pay down any outstanding debts?
Prudent financial management says when you have cash on hand, the first thing you do is pay off debt. Debt reduction saves money in interest costs, and leaves more money for hiring teachers, upgrading classroom equipment and other educational services. Despite his statements seeming to oppose the education shift; Governor Dayton in the last two years has both proposed the largest school shift plan and rejected the smallest.
The Health and Human Services Omnibus bill passed off the floor last week. This omnibus package contained a number of the EBT reform provision that I championed this year. A couple examples of these reforms include:
• Restricts Minnesota EBT cash fund use to Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. This ensures that taxpayer dollars are not leaving the surrounding area.
• Disqualifies anyone found to be guilty of using an EBT card to purchase prohibited items (i.e. alcohol and tobacco) for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense, and permanently for the third offense.
• Recipients convicted of a felony level drug offense within the past ten years will lose their access to the cash welfare benefits.
We saw a potentially historic accomplishment this week as the photo ID constitutional amendment bill was re-passed by both the House and Senate and will go to a public vote in the November election. A ballot question will now ask "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?” A majority vote of the people would amend the Minnesota Constitution, and the Legislature could implement the new photo ID requirement in 2013. This amendment would also require state identification be made available at no charge to those who do not already have an ID.
I believe Minnesotans recognize that this amendment will add some much needed integrity to our voter registration system. It also would preserve the ability of all Minnesotans, including military members, college students, and the elderly, to continue voting with ease. It keeps in place same day voter registration and absentee voting. The amendment does not include any mandates for spending or technology requirements. Enacting legislation would be decided by the Legislature only after the amendment is approved during the November elections.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to share your thoughts on the legislative session.
-Kurt
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News Items
- House Republicans Finalize Leadership Team - (Posted: 2012-12-17 00:00:00)
- House Republicans Elect Whip and Assistant Leaders - (Posted: 2012-12-12 00:00:00)
- House Republican Leader Kurt Daudt Chooses Rep. Jenifer Loon as Deputy Leader - (Posted: 2012-11-19 00:00:00)
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