Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jim Knoblach (R)

Back to profile

Legislative report from Rep. Knoblach

Friday, March 16, 2018

Dear Neighbor,

The focus in the House this week remained on hearing bills in committees as next Friday’s deadline for measures to make preliminary progress draws nearer.

This morning Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled his proposed supplemental budget. While most of our finance work is completed in odd-numbered years and our current biennial budget is in place, we often make adjustments to the second year of the budget which may be necessary.

My first impression of the plan the governor issued today is that it both taxes and spends too much. The governor proposes reversing many of last year's tax cuts (which he had signed into law), including ending the freeze on increases in commercial property and cigarette taxes, as well as eliminating the upward adjustment in the estate tax exemption. He also proposes to reinstate the 2 percent medical provider tax scheduled to expire next year (which he had also signed into law once upon a time).

I do not see us agreeing with him on these issues. Some of Dayton's spending proposals, such as more money for school safety, make some sense to me, but others like his proposal to add a $2 surcharge onto drivers license transactions to pay for his administration's driver license and vehicle registration software (MNLARS) debacle are definitely nonstarters. The House and Senate will offer supplemental budget plans of their own and then we will begin the process of reaching an agreement.

Speaking of MNLARS, the Ways and Means Committee I chair did pass our MNLARS reform bill on Monday with bipartisan support. I expect this bill will be on the House floor early next week. Hopefully we can get early agreement with the Senate and governor so that we can get this to become law and move along with fixing the problems of this system.

I had some action on my own bills this past week:

1) I had a hearing on my bill to renovate the Saint Cloud Armory. The bill passed on to the next committee. The Armory is 58 years old and has never received any significant renovation, and changes in the military since then (including the addition of women who need their own restrooms and locker rooms) make these renovations sorely needed;

2) I had a hearing on my bill to have Minnesota legislators run without political party affiliation on the ballot, similar to county commissioners and other local officials. Minnesota elections were run this way for sixty years ending in the 1970s. I think this would reduce the extreme partisanship I see down here that sometimes gets in the way of getting good legislation passed. The bill was laid over for possible consideration in the omnibus elections bill.

3) I introduced a bill that would have the Minnesota State College and University System end their lease for their Central Office in downtown Saint Paul, and instead relocate to one or more of their campuses when their lease ends. I don't think they need the extra expenditures that this lease costs when declining enrollment has freed up space on many campuses. In addition, I think it would be good for the administrators and others in the Central Office to actually be on a campus where they would more easily encounter faculty, students, and others each day. The University of Minnesota has their presidential offices in Morrill Hall on the U of M's Minneapolis campus, so this should not be seen as unusual.

4) I introduced a bill with wide bipartisan support that would greatly reduce civil forfeiture, the practice of government seizing people's cash, cars and other assets even if they have not been convicted of a crime. Civil forfeiture was originally put in place some years ago as a way to try to deal with drug dealers, and my bill leaves some exceptions for getting at drug kingpins, but the system has mostly evolved into taking assets from people who don't have the money or incentive to defend themselves. A Legislative Auditor study showed the average amount seized from people is less than $1700, so for many it doesn't even pay to hire an attorney. A fundamental tenet of American law is that you should not be punished unless proven guilty, and this bill will help restore that principle.

Monday was the annual Veterans Day on the Hill in St. Paul. There was a rally in the Capitol rotunda and a number of veterans-related bills received committee hearings. When you stop and think about it, the progress we have made in assisting the men and women who have served is rather impressive. Since just 2015 we have brought into law provisions which:

  • Exclude all military retirement pay from state income tax (I was proud to be Chief Author of this bill)
  • Allow active duty military members and their families to bypass the one-year wait and immediately qualify for higher education grants and scholarships
  • Increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and state veterans homes
  • Make it easier for veteran-owned small businesses to get state government contracts
  • Establish a Military Spouses and Families Day to honor Minnesota military families
  • Designate the Honor and Remember Flag as a symbol of the state’s commitment to fallen military members
  • Expand the Minnesota GI Bill to include apprenticeship and on-the-job training benefits

Finally, thanks to all who responded to my legislative survey. I have received several hundred back, and still have some trickling in. I have personally opened and read every one (or personally reviewed those who responded on line), and greatly appreciate all the input and feedback.

Sincerely,

Jim