Legislative Update (5-6-16)

Dear Neighbors,

Thanks to those of you who took time to fill out this year’s legislative survey. Each year, this survey serves as a valuable tool to help me gain an understanding of what your stances are on the issues. Here are the results from this year’s survey:

Do you support stopping all Minnesota tax payer funding to Planned Parenthood of Minnesota?

• Yes: 68%
• No: 26%
• Undecided: 6%

Governor Dayton has a plan to send all 4-year olds to school (all day Pre-K). Do you support using taxpayer dollars to fund scholarships for this program?

• Yes: 10%
• No: 81%
• Undecided: 9%

Do you support the DNR’s approach to expand its authority for water buffer zones to include ditches? This question was poorly phrased, as it failed to distinguish between private and public ditches. As I understand it, there was no dispute over public ditches. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused. This issue has also been addressed as changes were passed in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.

This year, Minnesota is projected to have about $900 million dollars in surplus. Please select your choices for how you think the surplus should be used.

• Refund all of it: 18%
• Use if for tax relief: 13%
• Use it to pay down state debt: 19%
• Refund part of it: 17%
• Use it for transportation: 24%
• Other: 9%

Minnesota spending in 2008 = $26.8 billion, Minnesota spending in 2010 = $28.4 billion, Minnesota spending in 2012 = $29.6 billion, Minnesota spending in 2015 = $35.9 billion

• Minnesota spends too much: 76%
• Minnesota should spend more: 2%
• Undecided: 23%

Do you support shutting down coal power plants in Minnesota in order to adhere to Governor Dayton and President Obama’s “clean energy” goals?

• Yes: 8%
• No: 80%
• Undecided: 12%

Do you support getting rid of MNsure and moving to the federal exchange?

• Yes: 36%
• No: 29%
• Undecided: 35%

End of Session Approaching

We are quickly approaching the end of the 2016 legislative session as there is only two weeks to left until final adjournment. As we get closer to the final gavel, there are still a number of items that remain unresolved—including a roads and bridges bill, middle class tax relief, and a bonding bill.

While I am still hopeful we will come to an agreement on transportation, there seems to be core disagreement on two main issues; whether we should increase taxes to help pay for a comprehensive transportation plan and whether we should include funding for rail transit in a comprehensive transportation plan. Though I do not support either, I am not sure what a final agreement may look like between the House and Senate and will diligently review the final proposal.

Just yesterday, the Senate debated and voted on its bonding bill proposal—a bill that would have been the biggest bonding bill in state history at $1.5 billion. The biggest bonding bill in state history was passed in 2006 and was $999 million. The sheer size of this proposal concerned a number of lawmakers as the state currently pays $1.5 billion per biennium on debt from previous bonding bills.

In a somewhat surprising development, the Senate failed to pass their bonding bill as it fell a single vote short of the needed super-majority. The Senate will now go back to the drawing board as the House is expected to release its bonding bill sometime in the near future. Our budget targets call for a proposal in the $600 million range which is historically much more in line with past bills.

When it comes to borrowing, I do not believe bigger is better. At some point we do need to repay the bonds, and so as a general rule, I am hesitant to support bonding bills. I am open to reviewing the projects that will be in the final proposal, and would be happy to listen to any feedback you may have on this bonding bill or bonding in general.

Staying in Touch

I was pleased to meet with Rev. Dale Pehrson last week as he was able to stop by the Capitol! If you are ever in St. Paul, even if you do not have an appointment, please feel free to contact me last minute. It is a great pleasure to take folks to the retiring room and on the floor of the House!

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments, or concerns on anything related to state government. It would be an honor to discuss your ideas on how we can make Minnesota better for everyone. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-1729 or via email at rep.abigail.whelan@house.mn.

Have a great week!

Abigail