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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Kurt Daudt (R)

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LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS SPECIAL SESSION SINE DIE

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Completes bipartisan budget that prioritizes students, aging adults and all Minnesotans

St. Paul- The Minnesota House of Representatives adjourned Saturday morning, officially concluding the 2015 special session. Legislative leaders completed the budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 with strong bipartisan support.

“Minnesotans expect us to come to St. Paul and lead by working together. The House Republican majority's aim from the beginning was bringing government spending more in line with family budgets. I’m proud to say, upon enactment, our budget will have the third lowest percent increase in general fund spending in over 50 years. We are targeting tax dollars toward our state’s priorities – E-12 students, roads and bridges, aging adults – and we are doing so without increasing the tax burden on hardworking Minnesotans,” said Speaker Kurt Daudt.

Six pieces of legislation were taken up and passed during special session including:

Overall highlights from the special session legislation include:

  • Invested $32 million in local roads, local bridges and rail crossing improvements.
  • Delivered nearly $23 million to state agencies in order to better prevent and respond to the avian influenza outbreak that has devastated Minnesota turkey flocks and $27 million for two facilities that will help Minnesota deal with avian flu and other emerging animal diseases.
  • Provided $19 million for the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project that will help deliver clean water to residents in the southwest corner of the state.
  • Extended special unemployment assistance to farm workers impacted by avian flu outbreak and to steelworkers impacted by Iron Range layoffs.
  • Expanded school choice through increased funding for pre-K scholarships.
  • Put more dollars in every classroom including an average increase of $236 per student on the funding formula for the next two years compared with $183 per student in the current biennium.

“The House Republican majority restored balance at the Capitol this year and demonstrated that shared government works. I’m proud of what we accomplished for everyday Minnesotans and we will continue to listen and work toward solutions that benefit our great state,” concluded Speaker Daudt.

According to an agreement signed by all four caucus leaders and the governor, the governor will sign these six pieces of legislation into law. The 2016 legislative session is scheduled to convene on March 8, 2016 at 12:00 PM.

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