Dear Neighbor,
Barely more than one week remains in this year’s session, yet the entire package of budget bills remains a work in progress, with joint House-Senate conference committees seeking resolutions.
In the meantime, some other issues have risen to the surface. A bill passed the House Thursday that would redefine marriage in Minnesota. I support traditional marriage and voted against this proposal. The vast majority of area residents also support traditional marriage. A recent Star Tribune survey indicates only 19 percent of non-metro Minnesotans support redefining marriage.
HIGHER ENERGY BILLS
Another bill House Democrats passed this week includes numerous renewable energy mandates which would increase costs for virtually all hardworking Minnesota homeowners and apartment residents. The bill (HF 956) requires a 40-percent renewable energy standard by 2030 for investor-owned utility companies. This includes a 4-percent solar mandate, with a goal of 10-percent. Owners of solar devices would receive subsidies, meaning even low-income citizens would be paying people who can afford this technology.
We offered a number of amendments to make improvements in these areas, but the majority blocked them. It concerns me the legislation shields companies on the Iron Range from rate hikes caused by solar mandates, while the rest of the state is subject to them.
One improvement we managed to make in the committee process exempts rural electric cooperatives and municipal systems from the 4-percent solar mandate and the sales tax on wholesale electricity.
MINIMUM WAGE
The House majority also recently passed a bill that would the minimum wage from $6.15 per hour to $9.50 per hour. Minnesota and Washington State would be the only states with a minimum wage currently higher than $9/hour. Other provisions would mandate overtime after 40 hours and raise the bar on unpaid family leave from six weeks to 12 weeks.
The Senate version would bring the minimum wage to $7.75 per hour and then make annual adjustments based on inflation. A conference committee will attempt to resolve the differences.
Most Minnesota employees currently earn at least the $7.25 federal minimum. I would consider a proposal that brings our minimum wage to that level (matching our four neighboring states), but we must consider the unintended consequences of going too high, too fast. This could force businesses to pass along the added costs to consumers through higher costs, or to workers by reduced hours/layoffs for the very people this is intended to help.
Next week should be a big one at the Capitol. House and Senate majorities need to loosen the budget logjam soon, or we could be looking at a special session. This once seemed unthinkable because there is one-party control in St. Paul, but we are nearing the point where extra time could become reality. I will keep you posted.
Sincerely,
Paul