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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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Legislative Update - December 4, 2015

Friday, December 4, 2015

Greetings from Moorhead,

Minnesota Management and Budget released the November budget forecast yesterday and projected a $1.871 billion surplus for the next biennium.  After 1/3 of these dollars are put into the state’s budget reserve, as is mandated by law, the available balance is $1.206 billion.  Some contributors to the budget surplus are Minnesota’s stable economy, higher sales and corporate tax receipts and lower spending on human services.  Another budget forecast will be released in late February/early March and serve as the guideline for the 2016 legislative session. 

I anticipate the biggest debate during the 2016 session, with regard to the surplus, will be between education funding for early childhood programs and tax cuts.  The House/Senate Tax Conference Committee is still open, as we did not pass a tax bill last year, and will likely pick up where it left off from the 2015 session; although tax bills and requests for tax expenditures are sure to increase with the forecast news from yesterday.  I would also like to see additional funding for direct property tax relief and higher education as part of the conversation. 

No official response from legislative leaders has been sent to the governor’s office from his recent calls for a Special Session.  The three biggest issues the governor would like to address during a Special Session are Real IDs, exhausted unemployment benefits for Iron Range workers and economic disparities for black Minnesotans.  Speaker Daudt made a statement that if he were to agree to a Special Session for Iron Range workers, he would want assurance from Governor Dayton that his administration would not interfere with or prolong the review and permitting processes for PolyMet’s proposed copper/nickel mine.  The governor has stated that he has no intention of doing so.  I will certainly keep folks updated on new Special Session developments as they occur.


Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,
Ben