Dear Neighbor,
Yesterday the House Democrats passed a mega omnibus state finance bill (House File 3172) which spends an additional $323 million of General Fund money for fiscal year 2014-15 and an additional $892 million in 2016-17. While there were a few worthwhile provisions in this bill, I could not support the final language.
During the 2013 legislative session, Democrat legislators and Governor Dayton increased state spending by approximately 10% and authorized a design for a $90 million Senate Office Building. Nevertheless, the majority has added even more spending in HF3172 including a troubling $442 million MNsure, Obamacare in Minnesota, bailout in fiscal year 2016-17. During floor debate yesterday, Republican legislators offered numerous amendments to bring more transparency to MNsure. One of those amendments would have made MNsure plan charges and enrollment figures available by September 1st of this year rather than wait until after the November elections. Unfortunately, Democrats refused to allow any debate on this or any other MNsure-related amendments.
Along with my Republican colleagues, I supported amendments to HF3172 to reduce overall spending by $72 million for 2014-15 while funding our priorities. I voted for proposals to increase local control by putting $65 per pupil on the basic formula for K-12 education, to fully fund the 5% rate increase for disability care workers, as well as to increase penalties for sex offenders. Unfortunately, the Democrat majority did not accept these Republican amendments.
Instead of rushing to spend the projected state budget surplus on a long wish list, I would have preferred to focus on funding a few key areas and return the remaining money to those who paid in their hard-earned dollars to state government.
As always, please feel free to call my office at 651-296-4212, e-mail me at Rep.Pam.Myhra@house.mn or write me at 217 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely yours,
Pam
Representative Pam Myhra
House District 56A