With 6th Graders from Badger, Greenbush Middle-River in St. Paul on Friday at the James J. Hill House.
Dear Neighbors,
Here is an update about what's happening at the Capitol this week.
Palsburg Fire
You may recall the Palsburg fire which broke out last year, causing significant damage in Northwest Minnesota and costing Roseau County, our schools and our townships nearly $1 million in lost revenue. The Department of Natural Resources has taken responsibility for this unfortunate accident, and should be held financially accountable in the same way a private entity would.
My legislation, which was recently heard in the Property Tax Committee, would provide $946,000 in supplemental county aid to Roseau County to compensate for the timber revenue losses from the Palsburg wildfire.
Thanks to Roseau County Commissioner Todd Miller for being in St. Paul to testify on behalf of the bill. This is an important provision for Roseau County, and I am pleased it's moving forward this session.
Legislation this week
This week, the House passed a number of bills that provide important policy provisions and funding priorities in Greater Minnesota. As you may recall, House Republicans released budget targets earlier this month with a zero net spending increase. To fund some priorities this session, we reduce the size of government in some areas and find cost savings in other places to better utilize taxpayer dollars. My priorities for the $900 million surplus, which is not spent in the supplemental budget bills, are transportation and tax relief.
Here are some highlights from the bills passed this week, including many provisions that I spearheaded:
Education/Higher Education
- Uses the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments as an indicator to measure college readiness, helping to save students money on remedial college courses
- Jumpstarts fixes to our broken teacher licensure system
- Reduces the funding disparity between metro and Greater Minnesota school districts
- Protects educators and school staff, addressing immediate needs of educators and working toward long-term solutions to stop violence in our classrooms
Health and Human Services/State Government Finance/Public Safety
- Defeated two anti-gun amendments on the House Floor—I am proud to stand up for our Second Amendment Rights! Both amendments were opposed by the NRA and GOCRA.
- Transitions away from our broken health care exchange, MNsure onto the federal exchange
- Cuts the MNsure premium tax in half (unlike the Senate who has proposed expanding the premium tax to health plans purchased both on and off the exchange)
- Limits the state's ability to make estate recovery claims for those aged 55-65 on Medical Assistance
- Requires the Department of Health Services to address fraud and abuse of public programs found in the Office of the Legislative Auditor's nonpartisan report, and uses cost savings to go toward an increase for long-term and community-based care workers who care for people with developmental disabilities
- Establishes a prescription drug comparison site to list pharmacy prices and available discounts for consumers
- Reforms to help make child care more affordable in Minnesota
- Reduces the cost of state government
- Freezes state government hiring
- Reduces salaries for politicians and political appointees
- Funds veteran initiatives
Jobs and Energy/Agriculture/Environment
- Creates a new grant program to assist Greater Minnesota communities struggling with child care shortages
- Repeals 2014 DFL statute that allowed for unionization of independent child care providers
- Funds $40 million in new funding for broadband internet expansion
- Makes strategic investments in animal health and disease prevention after last year's avian flu outbreak
- Establishes new farm safety protection pilot program
- Expands workforce housing, meeting key needs in Greater Minnesota
- Changes membership of the Public Utilities Commission to appointment by congressional district, giving a stronger voice to the priorities and people of Greater Minnesota
These bills will now be negotiated with the Senate before the end of session. There are a number of wonderful initiatives in these bills that work for the people and priorities of Northwest Minnesota, and along with middle-class tax relief and a transportation bill, I will be advocating for them to make it through negotiations before the end of session next month.
Follow me on Facebook!
To stay up-to-date on what’s happening at your State Capitol, feel free to “like” my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RepDanFabian.
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My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!
Dan
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01A