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State Representative Ernie Leidiger
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4282
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
Acting Early to Balance Government
From the Capitol News Column, January 27, 2010
Acting Early to Balance Government
The week after we introduced priority-based budgeting and pro job growth initiatives, my Republican colleagues and I continued our effort to balance government with an early action budget bill. This legislation, passed off the House floor on Thursday, immediately reduces the current projected deficit by $1 billion dollars.
The proposal has several key provisions. First, it extends last session’s one-time spending reductions and stops the auto-pilot spending increases that have driven government’s fiscal mess. It also prevents state agencies from spending non-essential funds at the end of the year—so-called “Christmas in June.” We’re telling agencies that in these tough economic times, they need to stop all unnecessary spending so that we can put those funds toward priorities. And to that end, the bill sets forward that K-12, special education and universities cannot be further reduced in the current budget. With our early action budget bill, House Republicans are making government live within its means and putting Minnesota priorities first.
Two reform bills that I have signed onto also received their first committee hearings last week. HF 4, also known as the “15x15” plan, would reduce the size and cost of the state workforce 15 percent by 2015. It is one of many initiatives we have to turn around unsustainable spending and re-create government for the future. After testimony from all sides of the issue, the bill passed out of committee on a voice vote.
Permitting reform, which I discussed last week, also gained approval in its first hearing. The committee received testimony from companies that have been waiting over four years to complete the review and permitting process, attesting to the barriers presented by the current system and the need for reform. While the Governor also signed an executive order this week directing agencies to pursue similar timeline goals, it does not have the all of the cost-efficiency measures of our bill, and I’m hopeful the Governor will maintain his commitment to this issue when the bill reaches his desk. With this legislation and many more initiatives, my Republican colleagues and I are committed to improving Minnesota’s business climate and helping our job creators thrive in a global economy.
Throughout the session I will keep constituents updated with these columns and regular email updates, which you can sign up for at www.house.mn/34a. Constituents are also welcome to stop by my office or call anytime with questions, comments and concerns. I look forward to hearing from you and making sure your voice is heard in the legislature.
Sincerely,
Ernie
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