Dear Neighbors,
We are down to the final weekend of the 2016 legislative session as the legislature will be adjourning Monday. As is the case every year, end-of-session negotiations between the House, Senate, and governor are fluid so things can and will change quickly.
Nevertheless, I want to give you a brief update on a few items that were before the legislature this week.
REAL ID
On Tuesday, the House passed a bill to bring Minnesota into compliance with federal REAL ID standards.
I believe the bill that passed the House does a good job of addressing data privacy concerns while also ensuring that Minnesotans can fly to see a relative in another state, visit their child on a military base, or take their family on vacation with a Minnesota-issued identification card.
The bill is currently in conference committee as members work out differences in the House and Senate positions.
Transportation Update
On Tuesday, the House offered a compromise transportation proposal to the governor and Senate. Our proposal meets the governor half way by using components of his plan and the Road and Bridge Act that the House passed last year. Half of the proposal, or $300 million, would come from existing funds to pay for road and bridge improvements. The other half comes from portions of the governor's recommendations: $200 million from trunk highway and general obligation bonds, as well as another $100 million from modifications to the depreciation schedule for tab fees.
While I do not think we should or need to raise revenue at this time (when we have a surplus), it seems the Governor and Senate DFL are holding out on a transportation agreement until there is agreement for new revenue.
Hence, though the adjustment on tab fees is not ideal, I believe of all the offers thus far (gas tax, a metro sales tax, and now tab fees/tax) our tab proposal is the least offensive. The governor called for a much higher increase in tab fees, and the House responded with a much lower adjustment. For example, a person buying a brand new $30,000 car today would pay $385 tab fee under current law. Under Governor Dayton’s most recent offer, that person would see a $124 tab fee increase, paying more than $500 total. Under the House Republican compromise, the person would pay just $5 more.
Another issue that may be a factor in whether we are able to reach a comprehensive transportation plan is expanding the Southwest Light Rail.
I oppose this for many reasons, including:
- Estimated construction cost of Southwest Light Rail = $1.7 billion
- Taxpayers would subsidize 70% of post-construction operating costs
- Projected ridership per day by year 2040 = 34,000 (round trips by 17,000 people per day)
- 17,000 people equals 3/10 of 1% of Minnesota's population (0.3%).
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On a hopeful note, it was a perfect spring day for the Armstrong Boulevard ribbon cutting.
It was amazing to see all of these people come together for roads and bridges; as I believe Representative Tom Emmer said, "a road or bridge is neither a Democrat or Republican."
The celebration of the completion of this vital project on such a beautiful sunny day gives me hope that we will be able to reach an agreement on at least some transportation funding this year… no guarantees, but I will keep working with all of these great people!
Bonding Bill
Yesterday the House voted on the bonding bill. The next step will be conference committee, where it almost certainly will change quite a bit. On the House side, I bonding committee chairman Representative Paul Torkelson and the committee did great work putting together a bill that invests in asset preservation and our priorities - roads, bridges, and infrastructure upgrades for water treatment facilities.
Notably, the House bill included safety and security renovations for the Minnesota Security Hospital & Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center. The upgrades for these hospitals are also included in the Senate bonding bill and Governor's recommendations. This bi-partisan inclusion of these projects speaks to the importance and need for these upgrades; indeed, after touring the Anoka facility twice, I believe this is incredibly important—not only to protect the patients and staff, but also for morale.
Since this is the most likely path for the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center to get the funds they need, I voted yes on the bonding bill yesterday. The bill still needs to go through the conference committee process, so I am hoping it can be improved upon further before the vote on final passage. I am also hopeful we will see more funding for roads and bridges.
Free Veteran Dental Care
It might seem like a ways off, but Saturday, June 25 marks a day when our military veterans can receive free dental care at one of 400 Aspen Dental practices around the country. If you’re a veteran and looking to take advantage of this opportunity, please call 1-844-ASPEN-HMM to find a clinic and schedule an appointment.
Staying in Touch
We will be working through the weekend as we get closer to a final deal on remaining items. Look for an update early next week recapping how things ended up wrapping up as the legislature adjourns for the year on Monday.
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 weekend!
Abigail