Dear Neighbors,
It’s an incredibly busy time at the Legislature with full, lengthy agendas. The first deadline for bills to pass through committees is already next Thursday. Here’s an update from the State Capitol.
State of the State
Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his eighth and final State of the State Address Wednesday night. His speech outlined the legacy he’s built during his 7-plus years in office of investments in the values we all care about and returning fiscal stability to state government. He entered office with a $6.2 billion deficit and $2 billion owed to our schools that had been borrowed to balance the budget. It’s pretty remarkable how far Minnesota has come under his leadership since then. Not only did the schools get paid back, we’ve made historic investments in education at all levels. Our economy continues to perform strongly with the lowest unemployment we’ve had in 17 years.
We have more work to do though. I look forward to working alongside the governor to make his final year in office a productive one that improves the lives of all Minnesotans.
Governor’s Budget
This morning Gov. Dayton announced his 2018 supplemental budget proposal. It includes tax fairness for Minnesota families, resources to end the opioid epidemic, and continues investments in education, among other things. It’s structured in a fiscally responsible way to ensure the next governor and Legislature will be on sound financial footing so we can continue to make progress on the things we value. You can read details about the proposed budget here.
“Secret Sex Offenders”
This week the Public Safety Committee considered a bill to keep kids safe by preventing those with records of criminal sexual conduct from driving school buses. Many people accused of such crimes receive “stays of adjudication” as part of a plea bargain, meaning the offense doesn’t officially appear on the person’s record. This bill would make these subject to background checks. I made comments in KARE 11’s story about the committee discussion.
You’re still invited to take my 2018 Legislative Survey. It’s only a few questions and you can access it online here. Please continue to reach out to me with your questions, comments, and ideas. Feel free to call or email me any time.
Sincerely,
Debra Hilstrom
State Representative