HF 843 includes provisions to lower wages and gut broadband funding
SAINT PAUL, MN – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed the Omnibus Jobs and Energy Bill, authored by Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington). The Republican’s Omnibus Jobs and Energy bill reverses course on decades of progress on job creation, economic development, workforce housing, and clean and renewable energy. It also repeals or weakens a number of provisions beneficial to workers and consumers in Minnesota. The bill passed 73-56.
Rep. Erik Simonson (DFL – Duluth) was the author of broadband legislation in 2013 that would be largely unfunded by this bill.
“This bill would lower wages, hinder economic development in Greater Minnesota, and reverse our progress on clean energy,” said Rep. Simonson “It’s another bill crafted by Republicans to serve their corporate special interests instead of Minnesota’s families and workers. It is a terrible bill.”
Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL – Duluth) was also unable to support the anti-worker legislation.
“It’s frustrating to watch Republicans wasting time on measures that will lower pay for working families,” said Rep. Schultz. “Not only that, but on Earth Day, the entire Republican caucus went on record denying that climate change is caused by human actions. It’s just embarrassing.”
Despite a $2 billion surplus, this bill cuts funding for jobs and economic development, falling $64 million short of the Governor’s budget. Provisions within the bill curtail the development of broadband in Greater Minnesota, slash job creation programs, shutter Minnesota trade offices in South Korea, Brazil and Germany, reduce job retraining funds, cut programs that keep Minnesotans from becoming homeless, eliminate funding to keep seniors from being scammed by gold coin investments, cut the wages of tipped employees, raid the unemployment insurance fund, and stop us from repaying our debts to the Iron Range.
House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL – Minneapolis) spoke against the measure that would decrease broadband funding in Greater Minnesota by 85 percent and lower wages for tipped workers.
“The Republicans call this a jobs and energy bill but unfortunately they're putting all their energy into cutting wages and cutting jobs,” said House DFL Leader Paul Thissen. “We should continue Minnesota’s economic progress by supporting hardworking Minnesotans and Greater Minnesota, but this bill leaves them behind so that corporate special interests can get further ahead.”
“We have a budget surplus of $2 billion and they’re slashing the most effective job creation programs we have,” said Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL – St. Paul). “For every $8,000 we invest in those two jobs programs we create a good paying job that results in an additional $112,000 of business investment. It’s incomprehensible that we’re cutting programs and raiding money from areas that create jobs in Greater Minnesota, help seniors, prevent homelessness and help the recently laid off find new jobs.”
This bill also guts the renewable energy standard, paves the way for more coal fired power plants supplying Minnesota with electricity, and removes net metering rules which encourage homeowners to install roof-top solar panels and farmers to erect small wind turbines.
“After the progress we’ve made on renewable energy, this bill is a huge blow, especially to wind energy production. It puts thousands of jobs across Minnesota in jeopardy,” said Rep. Mahoney.
Rep. Schultz encourages community members to contact her on any legislative issue. She can be reached by email at rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn or phone at 651-296-2228.
Rep. Simonson encourages community members to contact him on any legislative issue. He can be reached by email at rep.erik.simonson@house.mn or phone at 651-296-4246.
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