Dear neighbor,
A topic I mentioned last week – Gov. Mark Dayton approving large raises for some of his political appointees – continues to make news. There has been significant discussion in the wake of the backlash this decision created, from the public to legislators at the Capitol and news outlets throughout the state.
Plans are emerging to address this issue, including legislation I helped pass through the House Ways and Means Committee as chairman of that panel. We successfully passed language Monday that reduces spending in a “deficiencies bill” equal to the salary increases the governor approved. The gist of this provision is taxpayers should not be on the hook for action the governor took on his own to provide salary increases for state commissioners.
A new law the Democrats who controlled the Legislature and Dayton enacted in 2013 allows the governor to offer raises like these without legislative authorization and/or public hearings. That is a problematic arrangement for a whole host of reasons, but the sheer size of the raises – $25,000 to more than $80,000 per year – really raised red flags. Those salary increases by themselves are more money than many Minnesotans earn in a year, and offering them seems to have caused a rift with citizens who deserve more careful stewardship with their tax dollars.
This issue is likely to continue simmering at the Capitol as we look for ways to provide more transparency and accountability in how we compensate our state employees. We all want to see our commissioners receive fair compensation, but these raises exceeded what most people deem to be reasonable.
Another bill I have authored (H.F. 488) has cleared its first committee hurdle. This bill ratifies contracts of MNSCU employees, nurses and various law enforcement personnel (troopers and game wardens, for example). These employees have been paid at their new compensation level for some time, but the last Legislature failed to take up a bill to ratify these contracts, so I am carrying this bill. It has at least two, and maybe three more committees to clear, but it is making progress and I feel very positive about its chances.
We also continue work to create the outline of a House budget proposal as we await an updated state economic forecast. Revenue figures from that February forecast will provide us with the framework necessary to assemble our official budget plan, likely to be issued in March.
Please continue sending me your thoughts on the issues. Input from constituents helps me continue doing my best to represent the people of our area.
Sincerely,
Rep. Jim Knoblach