Friends,
The second week of session has been a busy one. Lots of meetings with constituents, presenting bills in committee, and we have the budget forecast announcement this week. Take a look at that and more in this week's update. Have a great weekend!
Meeting with Superintendent
Today, I had a meeting with Superintendent Dr. Kate McGuire of Osseo-Maple Grove School District 279 today to discuss a variety of issues but chief among them was the safety of our students. Keeping our children safe is at the top of everyone's mind right now and more must be done to ensure they are safe at school. There are many proposals right now on just how to accomplish that, and while none may be perfect, there has to be a middle ground we can reach that respects the constitutional rights of gun owners and better protect our children. While I do not serve on the public safety committee, I am monitoring this issue closely and will do what I believe best protects our children.
Rep. Smith meeting with students from School District 279- Osseo & Maple Grove.
My Bill Moving through Committees
My bill, HF 2764, that will modernize our business organization laws, making them more in line with that of Delaware where many businesses are incorporated passed another committee this week. Delaware is the national leader in business law and it will help to make Minnesota a more attractive place for companies to form and expand into. The bill will next move on to the House Floor where I look forward to presenting it to the entire House.
Rep. Smith presenting his bill to make Minnesota a more business-friendly environment
State Budget Surplus
Also this week, Minnesota Management and Budget announced the February Forecast that predicts a $329 million budget surplus. While this does mean that the government is collecting too much money from hard-working taxpayers, it is also good news as it is a sign our economy is strong and the tax reforms at the state and federal level are working. The February Forecast is more than a half-billion dollar improvement from the November one that predicted a $188 million dollar deficit. Click on the picture below to see me talk about the surplus on Channel 12 news.
REAL ID & MNLARS Update
It was another turbulent week for MNLARS, the DMV computer system developed by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and MN.IT. First came a headline-making story where DPS refused to confirm they would be requesting an extension in October so Minnesota travelers could continue to use their regular IDs to fly past the October 10 deadline. Without such an extension, all Minnesotans who would like to use just their driver's license to travel would need to get a REAL ID between when DPS starts issuing them on October 1st and October 10th. This is plainly impossible so I sent a letter to Governor Dayton asking him to direct his Commissioner to indeed request that extension. That letter reads:
Dear Governor Dayton,
I am contacting you today for an update on plans by your administration to request another REAL ID extension from the Federal Department of Homeland Security beyond the current deadline of October 10, 2018.
October 1, Your administration has assured legislators that the FAST Company hired by the state will indeed be able to meet its contractual obligations and issue REAL ID-compliant licenses by the 2018 date mandated in statute. In the event your administration is unable to meet the statutory deadline of October 1, 2018, I want to ensure that Minnesotans are able to board an airplane or enter federal facilities with their current licenses. The way to accomplish this is by receiving another extension from the Department of Homeland Security.
If an extension request is not in order at this time, I request an update on what date your administration plans to submit the next extension request.
The Governor also requested $10 million in emergency funding to come to the immediate aid of MNLARS or they would need to send layoff notices to those working on the project. This proposal was brought up for debate in the House Chamber on Thursday afternoon. But it was after the Senate had adjourned until Monday, so there was nothing we could do until Monday anyway since both bodies would have needed to act favorably on the bill for it to proceed to the Governor.
A bill has been introduced that provides the $10 million from the same DVS account but would require the Governor to back-fill $10 million from within his executive agency budgets by June 30, 2019. Governor Dayton has said he accepts responsibility for the MNLARS mess, and this approach will give him the opportunity to back up those words with actions.
The bottom line is Minnesota taxpayers have paid nearly $100 million for a system that is only half built. Before we dedicate one more penny, we need to see real documentation that this funding is needed and that those responsible for this mess are held accountable. It simply would not be wise to allocate $10 million without comprehensive documentation and a plan on how MN.IT plans to spend this funding and provide a product that works. Minnesotans deserve a DMV system that works, but we will not give a blank check to the Governor.
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) announced they packed over 1.2 million meals in just 5 days. The Northwest metro chapter of FMSC will be holding a meeting to join in their great cause on march 8th at 10am they will be meeting at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Brooklyn Park. You can learn more by visiting their website.
High School Winter Sports
Maple Grove, Osseo, and Wayzata's hockey teams all came up short of reaching state, losing at various levels in the section tournaments. Congrats to all the teams on a hard fought season and working together as a team. The basketball section tournaments get underway next week so be sure to go out and cheer on our teams then!
Meeting with Constituents
I always love meeting with constituents who are visiting the Capitol. If you plan to be in Saint Paul during session, please schedule a meeting and stop by. It was great to meet with all these constituents over the last week.
Session Preview on Channel 12 News
Earlier this month, I taped an interview with CCX, Channel 12 News, about my priorities for the upcoming session. Specifically, I talk about the importance of finishing the 610 interchange and making updates to our 911 system. Watch the full segment here.
Please continue to share your thoughts with me about our state government; bill ideas and concerns are welcomed! I am honored to serve you at the Capitol. If you are going to be at or around the Capitol, please stop by or schedule a meeting. My email address is Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, phone number 651-296-5502, and by mail: 375 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a great weekend!
Dennis