Dear neighbors,
We have 11 days left in session and we have a lot of work to be completed. Governor Dayton and legislative leaders have engaged in what could at best be called on-and-off budget negotiations after legislative leaders abandoned talks earlier this week. You can read more about it here.
There certainly is a lot to discuss with so many provisions that don’t live up to Minnesota values. Here are my top five provisions that need to be resolved.
Underfunding our schools. Minnesotans are proud of our schools, but instead of investing in them the legislature passed bills that underfund our schools. This will cause cuts in the classroom and will force tuition to rise even faster. We are a stronger state when we invest in education.
Tax cuts for the wealthiest heirs in Minnesota. Instead of expanding Minnesota’s very successful voluntary pre-kindergarten program, the tax bill includes a tax cut for the wealthiest 1100 people inheriting millions of dollars. That tax cut would nearly fully fund the Governor’s voluntary pre-kindergarten program. If it is a choice between investing in Minnesota’s children and giving tax cuts to the rich, I will pick our kids every single time.
Cutting programs and staff which protect our water and environment. Now, more than ever, we must protect Minnesota’s environment and natural resources. There are proposals eliminating a commission that recommends how to keep our lakes and rivers clean, crippling agencies’ ability to conduct environmental reviews, and taking the ability to implement environmental regulations away from experts and scientists.
No raises for the home health workers. Minnesota is facing a home care worker crisis, with an aging population and stagnant wages for the hardworking Minnesotans taking care of our seniors and disabled. A raise for these workers would improve care for our loved ones and attract more workers to the field. By not raising the wages for home health care workers, we leave behind those who care for the most vulnerable Minnesotans.
Cutting job creation programs. The proposed economic development budget takes money from successful programs, including the Job Creation Fund and the Minnesota Investment Fund. Both of these programs have helped businesses in the community expand—Abdullah and Uponor—and I want to ensure that both of these programs are fully funded going into the future so more businesses can use them to grow.
I am going to continue to work with my colleagues and the Governor towards a compromise that reflects Minnesota’s values.
I was also happy to attend Apple Valley’s state of the city address on Thursday. Apple Valley has a bright future and a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
Students from Apple Valley were honored at the state of the city for their civic involvement. It is amazing to see the talent and drive in the next generation.
The Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce also hosted an event on attracting and integrating immigrants into our workforce. I am excited to see where this report will lead us.
The next Coffee and Conversations will be in June where I will give an update on the legislative session. I will provide more details after session.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have. Your voice matters.
Sincerely,
Erin Maye Quade
State Representative