Dear Friends,
It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for our country and our state. It seems like every day we hear more bad news about events around the country. We are facing some real and deep challenges. Now, more than ever, we need to care for each other and unite as Minnesotans and as Americans.
Special Session Possible
Negotiations last Friday between Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders regarding a possible special session have rekindled hope for a special session.
It’s unfortunate we’re in this position, but as you know, the regular session adjourned in late May, leaving a great deal of unfinished work including a tax bill, a bonding bill and a transportation bill. All parties involved – myself included – understand the urgency of wrapping up business like this, but a final conclusion is going to require give-and-take from all sides.
The tax bill passed in the Legislature with several very good provisions including increases to the working family and child and dependent care credits, and an ag land tax credit for school construction. It was vetoed due to a $100 million error. We should be able to reconsider this in a special session.
I continue to work to make sure the bonding bill has funding to address safety issues at the Minnesota Security Hospital (MSH) and rebuilds part of South Central College. I am working for a transportation agreement that has new funding for Corridors of Commerce, the program that is building four lanes on Highway 14 from North Mankato to the west end of Nicollet. Funding for more staff at MSH has hit a wall, but I will keep advocating for it to be included in a special session package.
We need to put election year posturing aside and get this work done. It appears any special session likely won’t happen until mid-August at the earliest. I’m more hopeful now than a few weeks ago that we can reach a compromise and get this done.
State Budget
Good news. Fiscal Year 2016 concluded on June 30, and revenues exceeded the amount from the February budget forecast by $230 million. While economic growth has slowed a bit, our economy is still in a solid position, and hopefully we will be entering the 2017 session with another sizable budget surplus.
New Laws
July 1 is the start of Minnesota’s Fiscal Year. As a result, many state programs will receive continued funding or increases for vital state services. August 1st is the day many new policy provisions become law.
A summary of selected new laws that took effect July 1, 2016, can be accessed at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/leginfo/0716nlrelease.pdf
A complete summary of all laws passed by the 2016 Legislature is available online from the House Public Information Services Office at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/newlaws/#/search/2016
I know that you may be interested in an issue or have a concern that I have not addressed in this message. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me with any issues, questions, or concerns that you may have. I look forward to visiting with you in person over the coming months.
Sincerely,
Rep. Clark Johnson