Dear Neighbors,
Since my last update, Governor Dayton vetoed three bipartisan budget bills—Education, Agriculture and Environment, and a Jobs Growth bill—triggering the need for a special session. Issues concerning two of the three budget bills, Education and Environment and Agriculture, have since been resolved. Unfortunately, the governor continues to insist that there are still outstanding issues that need to be addressed before he will call a special session.
In addition to these three budget bills, the governor was delaying a special session over a policy provision in our bipartisan State Government Finance Omnibus bill, a bill that he already signed into law. This provision allows counties to seek competitive bids from the private sector to perform their required annual audits rather than being required, as they currently are, to have the State Auditor’s office perform them.
There are currently 28 counties (as well as all of Minnesota’s cities and school districts) that are given the option to seek competitive bids for their audits. Yesterday, however, the governor relented on his insistence that this provision, again one that has already been signed into law, be taken out of the bill. While this concession should pave the way for special session, Governor Dayton sent a letter to House Speaker Kurt Daudt yesterday with a new list of demands that he would like to see resolved in the upcoming special session.
In the letter, Governor Dayton specified the still outstanding issues in the Jobs and Energy bill that he wants resolved. And, among other things, the governor cited the following four issues he would like to see addressed in the special session:
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Increased funding for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program
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Funding to be included in a bonding bill to construct facilities to safely house sex offenders
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Additional funding for rail grade crossing safety improvements
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Clarify the Destination Medical Center (DMC) language and give Rochester the flexibility to use its local sales tax to support the project
In the letter the governor specifically mentions rail-crossing projects in Moorhead, Prairie Island and Coon Rapids. While these three crossings are certainly in need of safety improvements, I am disappointed that the governor did not include the Ferry Street crossing in Anoka. Notably, this specific location was listed 6th out of 15 priority grade-separation recommendations in a recent report by MnDOT (you can find information regarding the report here: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/govrel/reports-2014.html). It is important that we look at ways to improve safety at this crossing as more oil is being transported via rail car through our community. I remain committed to ensuring the safety of our communities and will continue fighting to improve rail safety.
I will have more updates for you as the special session approaches. The governor has indicated that special session could take place as early as the end of this week. Right now the plan is to pass a small bonding bill, the Legacy bill (which passed the House but not the Senate due to time constraints), as well as the three budget bills discussed above.
Stay tuned,
Abigail