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State Representative Tim O'Driscoll
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7808
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OP/ED COLUMN
Intense budget discussions begin
By Rep. Tim O'Driscoll
With about a week to go until July 1, budget meetings are the talk for the next two days in St. Paul.
I still remain open that we will reach agreement on a state budget and avoid a shutdown. Yesterday (Thursday), legislative leaders met with members of the House to provide us an update on where budget negotiations are and the path that they believe will help us get an end game that works for Minnesota.
Talks got underway this morning (Friday) between Gov. Dayton and key legislative leaders and may continue through Saturday. This new approach to talks is one the governor and leaders believe could set the framework for a budget deal.
Earlier this week, House Speaker Kurt Zellers offered the idea to Gov. Dayton that the governor and a very small group of legislative leaders join in marathon talks over Friday and Saturday to hammer out a budget deal and stay at it until one is reached, thus avoiding a state shutdown. Zellers said this was the approach that was used to finally resolve disputes between parties on matters relating to the new hospital in Maple Grove, which is now open and operating in the community.
There are a number of bills that could be passed in short order now if a special session is called, since there appears to already be general agreement on certain budget funding levels. Legislative leaders have been asking the governor to call a special session, so these bills could be passed and avoid a far- reaching state shutdown come July 1.
Bills that appear to be very close are public safety, judiciary and transportation. The vast majority of the transportation budget includes “pass through” money from bonding and federal sources and thus would not have a measurable impact on other budget negotiations.
If a transportation budget can't be reached by July 1, MnDOT project inspectors will not be available for inspections on current projects and would also delay the start of other projects this construction season as well. In the unlikely event that a shutdown would be a prolonged one, this could raise serious issues for time lines to complete construction project this season.
Also up for consideration in an immediate special session could be state flood relief bill and the Legacy budget. The flood relief bill would provide aid to some 34 Minnesota counties, which were affected by flooding. Legacy funding in not a general fund budget matter, since it is a separate source of funding and spending, which was approved by the voters in a constitutional amendment in 2008.
Again, I do remain hopeful we will get an agreement on the framework for the budget, which will help avoid a shutdown that no one wants to see.
Stay tuned!
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