Dear Neighbors,
Here is an update from St. Paul.
In this issue:
- Senate DFL Budget Targets
- Broadband Funding
- A New Feature -- Minnesota Trivia
Senate DFL Budget Targets
House Republicans unveiled their budget targets last week with a net zero spending increase. Why a zero spending increase? The answer is simple. The legislature passed a complete budget for the upcoming two year biennium and we do not believe any changes or additional spending obligations are needed. This week the Senate DFL laid out their priorities and “supplemental” budget targets that included many new spending proposals and, unfortunately, used very little of the $900 million surplus for transportation funding.
Going into this session, one of the top priorities for Minnesotans has been a transportation bill that invests in our roads and bridges. Despite claiming transportation as a priority, the DFL Senate is proposing to spend less than 4 percent of our $900 million surplus on transportation.
As we move into the second half of the legislative session, I will continue to advocate for a comprehensive transportation bill to fix our roads and bridges, as well as a middle-class tax relief bill for Minnesota families.
Broadband
Here in the metro area, we’re fortunate to have widespread internet, wi-fi and broadband coverage for our homes and businesses. That’s not the case in many parts of rural Minnesota, which poses a significant challenge to schools, farms, health care facilities and main street businesses that need broadband coverage to operate in an increasingly global environment.
What role should the state play in either providing, or partnering with the private sector to provide such coverage? How much should the state spend? As you might imagine, there are several possible answers.
One school of thought is that state government (taxpayers) should fund all necessary broadband expansion across the entire state. Another option is for the state to do nothing, and let free market forces and the private sector determine how, when and where broadband will be provided to remote rural locations. A third option is a hybrid of options one and two, namely that both the state and private sector provide funding, and the private sector then build out broadband networks on a predetermined schedule.
I am strongly opposed to state government owning and operating any sort of broadband network. Several years ago, the city of Monticello undertook such a project with the result being insufficient customer sign-ups, huge debt and millions in taxpayer-provided subsidies to operate a failing system.
On Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled a series of proposals to increase broadband access across Minnesota. Our goal is to ensure public-private partnerships, not government owned and operated broadband networks.
The proposals total $35 million, including $28 million for rural broadband expansion and $7 million dedicated to improving broadband access for Minnesota students. Rural schools can apply for grant funds from a pool of $5 million and could receive up to $100,000 for operating costs and equipment such as wi-fi hotspots that students could bring home.
When combined with federal Connect America Funds that have already been appropriated, Minnesotans will see a historic broadband infrastructure investment for our state that will help students, small businesses and families in unserved and underserved areas.
Peppin's MinnTriv
We've added a new trivia feature to our newsletter to test your knowledge of fun facts, figures and culture that are uniquely Minnesotan. We invite you to participate, and the name and city of residence of each week's winner will be announced.
Here's the question for this week:
Minnesota baseball commentator Halsey Hall was famous for saying what phrase during a baseball broadcast?
Reply to this email with your answer, and I'll share the winner of the first Peppin MinnTriv question in my legislative update next week.
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As always, if you have any questions or concerns on an issue relating to state government, my office is available to help. My direct line is 651-296-7806. My email address is rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn and my mailing address is Room 459 State Office Building, 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Joyce
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/34A