Overview of special session

Dear Neighbor,

 

The Legislature conducted a one-day special session Friday and early Saturday, mainly to re-pass three budget bills we passed in May and the governor vetoed after the Legislature adjourned. This time, he signed them and a new budget is in place.

 

Changes between what passed last month and what we sent to the governor this time are not dramatic. Maybe the most notable is $125 million more for K-12 education, bringing the funding increase for that area to 2 percent in both 2016 and 2017. The governor still did not get the universal pre-K he was seeking. Instead, we approved targeted pre-K scholarships and school readiness aid to make sure tax dollars are directed where they are needed most.

 

 

Another budget bill we re-passed pertains to agriculture/environment. A key provision provides $23 million to combat the avian influenza outbreak that has devastated Minnesota turkey flocks and prevent future outbreaks. A compromise on the governor's 50-foot buffer strip proposal also was included, resulting in a more reasonable 16.5-foot buffers on all public ditches.

 

 

The third budget bill, jobs/economic development, includes a number of measures that will benefit Greater Minnesota. For starters, there is $10.6 million in broadband grants. There also is $4 million to alleviate a workforce housing shortage, $2.1 million for STEM internships and $1.8 million for job training grants. Another $5 million incentivizes pre-purchasing of propane.

 

 

In addition to the budget bills, the Legislature also passed two other items that are not officially part of the state budget.

 

 

A capital investment (bonding) bill of $180 million includes $33 million for Capitol renovations, $32 million for transportation needs, 27 million for two facilities to help us deal with animal diseases including avian influenza, and $23 million for flood prevention and disaster relief. Of local note, $300,000 was included in the bill to assist the Eagle's Healing Nest veterans organization in Sauk Centre.

 

 

Finally, the Legislature passed a bill which appropriates $540 million in revenue from the Legacy Amendment voters approved in 2008. The breakdown includes:

It is good to see things come to a conclusion in St. Paul and the finished product includes many good items, including increased transportation funding for small cities and increased funding for nursing homes. Compromise was the name of the game with split powers at the Capitol and nobody got everything they wanted.

 

 

Please remain in contact through the summer months and as we prepare for the 2016 session. Transportation will be an item to keep an eye on next year. I am pleased we prevented a gas-tax increase of at least 16 cents per gallon from being enacted, but it also is disappointing a House plan to dedicate $7 billion over the next decade toward our roads and bridges was blocked.

 

 

Sincerely,

Paul