Dear Neighbor,
This is the part of the session where things really start to get interesting in the House as a parade of finance bills starts filing through the Ways and Means Committee.
There are a dozen finance bills that, together, will form our new two-year state budget. They make up various aspects of state spending, from transportation to education, Health and Human Services and more. As chairman of Ways and Means, I have been in many meetings with respective finance committee chairs to iron out the details and prepare bills to pass through my committee and to the House floor for full votes.
Regarding HHS, the House proposal looks to increase spending in that area by $443 million. We also have unallocated state surplus revenue of up to $314 million that could be applied to HHS. I am conducting due diligence in examining how to use those available dollars and, given the needs we face in HHS, they could be applied to that area.
In other news, Gov. Mark Dayton issued his State of the State Address in the House chamber on Thursday night. During it, he reiterated his desire for an $842 million bonding bill this year. He also wants to do a bill of equal size next year. That is an awfully large price tag, especially when you consider bonding bills of that size are traditionally done in the even-numbered years.
If we were to do a bill that large this year and then consider another one in 2016, it could very well push us over the state's recommended borrowing limit. In the past the Bonding Committee has toured projects around the state during the summer and fall after the legislative session so they were well informed about the projects. We should stay with this precedent by touring projects this summer (such as a worthy proposal at the correctional facility in St. Cloud) and then take up a bonding bill next year.
Along with working on budget items, I continue advocating for bills with local impacts. One stipulates BMX motocross tracks do not have to pay taxes on admission receipts. Another reduces the tax liability for bingo halls to what it was before passage of new gambling laws, allowing them to have extra funds to donate to the charities that they support. A bingo hall in St. Cloud recently shut its doors over lease issues, but passage of the bill I have authored would improve the likelihood the operation reopens in a new location.
Please continue providing me with input as we progress toward the May 18 date we are scheduled to adjourn in the House. Your thoughts, ideas and concerns help me continue doing my best to represent the people of District 14B.
Sincerely,
Jim