With my intern from this session, Robert, on the House Floor. Thanks for all your hard work this session, Robert!
Dear Neighbors,
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, as we remember those brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Here is the latest update from the Capitol.
Session Concludes
Last week, the Legislature concluded their work, completing and sending budget bills to Governor Dayton after we reached a bipartisan compromise. Governor Dayton signed the bills into law this week, and I am pleased we got our work done for the people of Minnesota. I think there are a lot of great things to be proud of this session!
Transportation & Taxes
First, House Republicans came in advocating for two significant priorities this session— transportation and tax relief. We accomplished great things in both of those areas.
On the transportation front, we passed the largest investment in our road and bridge infrastructure ever without a tax increase. We were able to do this in part by redirecting some general fund dollars (from existing transportation-related revenues) toward transportation projects.
What’s more, the final bill included language to bring needed reform to the MnDOT highway project selection process. The language came from a few bills that I and other legislators chief authored, which were based on the recommendations put forth by the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor. Though the language adopted in the final omnibus bill is not the exact language of the bill I carried, the intent and idea is the same (aimed to make improvements to the transparency of MnDOT's project selection process), and I am pleased we were able to work together to bring needed changes to this area of law. Should the transparency of the highway selection process still not improve, we may look to do more in future sessions.
The bonding bill that passed also has funding for transportation projects.
Finally, we also ensured that state funding will not be used to cover operating costs of the Southwest Light Rail line without legislative approval.
Our tax relief package includes more than $650 million in meaningful middle-class tax relief for families, seniors on social security, college graduates with student loan debt, farmers and businesses across the state. I am happy to share this is the biggest tax cut for Minnesotans in nearly two decades!
Capital Investment (Bonding)
Capital investment bills are traditionally centered on infrastructure and use "bonds" (or borrowing) to fund the costs of building and maintaining the state's infrastructure. In recent years in the Minnesota budget cycle, smaller capital investment or "bonding" bills are offered/passed in the first year of the budget cycle, and a larger bonding bill is passed in the second year of the budget cycle.
While this bonding bill is large for the first year of a biennium, it is important to note that last year the Legislature did not pass a bonding bill. This year’s bonding bill included many of the same projects from the previous bonding bill, which was largely focused on roads, bridges, and public infrastructure. You can read the full bill here.
While there are a few more projects in the bonding bill than I would like, I voted in favor of it as it is so heavily focused on roads and bridges, and infrastructure. Also, notably for our area of the state, the bill contained a couple great projects:
-Funding for safety and security renovations at the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center
-$14 million for a local project to improve Hanson Blvd in Anoka County
*While I do not like that we borrow as a state, we have some guidelines in place to help ensure we borrow wisely (think of buying a mortgage). For example, we typically take out twenty years bonds and must pay back 40 percent of the bonds within the first five years, and 70 percent within ten years.
Education
I believe the omnibus education bill will bring great benefit to Minnesota students and schools. The bill increased education funding by $1.35 billion over the current biennium, with a 2 and 2 percent increase on the per pupil student formula, which puts more money in every classroom across the state.
Also included were significant reforms to fix our broken teacher licensure system, as I wrote about in a previous update. We also passed a repeal of the default LIFO (last in, first out) policy. The repeal will now allow local bargaining units to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement that takes into account more than just seniority when making difficult layoff decisions. Seniority can still be an important factor in those decisions.
In all, the bill includes additional funding and meaningful policy changes that will improve student learning and ensure our state can attract and retain world-class educators.
Higher Education
It was an honor to sit on the higher education conference committee and help work out a final compromise that focuses on affordability and accessibility for college students this session. From freezing tuition for the 2018-19 school year at MnSCU campuses to providing more opportunities for students with learning differences, I think it does a lot of important things.
I am also pleased to report an issue that I have long advocated for, and helped negotiate with the University of Minnesota and legislators was included in the bill. The U of M is now required to obtain approval from an institutional review board or fetal tissue oversight committee before conducting research on aborted fetal tissue, and must report to the legislature on the use of aborted fetal tissue (for more on this in a previous update, see:http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressrelease.asp?pressid=28034&party=2&memid=).
While ultimately I would like to see a ban on the use of aborted fetal tissue, I believe this is a step in the right direction.
Tele-medicine Abortion Reporting, Health and Human Services
I am pleased that a bill I carried last session and again this session to require abortion facilities to report whether or not an abortion was performed via tele-medicine was included in the Health and Human Services Omnibus bill. For more on the bill I carried, see https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2573&ssn=0&y=2017.
A big thank you to the Chairs of the Health and Human Services Committees, as well as the Chair of the Ways and Means committee, for their assistance in ensuring this provision was included in the final bill Human Services Omnibus bill (see section 95: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF2&version=1&session=ls90&session_year=2017&session_number=1.)
Other Budget Bills
Other highlights in budget bills passed this session include preventing undocumented immigrants from receiving driver’s licenses through executive branch rulemaking, streamlining permitting and funding veteran priorities.
Overall, I think this was a positive session for the people of Minnesota, and I am glad we were able to come to a bipartisan agreement that funds our state’s shared priorities including tax relief, schools, and roads and bridges.
Around the Community
Anoka Classic Car Show
The Anoka Classic Car Show is a wonderful local event that runs throughout the summer with great music and food. Check out more about upcoming dates you can see these classic cars here.
Concerts in the Park
Enjoy free concerts this summer right in your own community!
Check out the dates and performances for Anoka here and Ramsey here.
***
With the session concluded, email updates will not be coming regularly every week, but I will strive to keep you informed about important news happening at the Capitol and in the community. Please know my office is available should you need assistance on a matter of state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-1729 or via email at rep.abigail.whelan@house.mn. I also welcome your input and ideas on legislation and matters moving through the Minnesota House. I am here to serve you and it is a joy! Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your state representative.
Have a wonderful weekend and summer,
Abigail