Saint Paul, Minnesota – The 2013 Legislative Session adjourned on May 20, finishing on time with an honestly-balanced budget that makes critical investments in education, property tax relief, and job creation. State Representatives John Ward (DFL – Baxter) and Joe Radinovich (DFL – Crosby) said that the Legislature made great progress for Minnesota.
“For the past decade Minnesota’s budget deficits have been balanced with an all cuts-and-gimmicks approach that have increased class sizes, squeezed middle class families, and only left us with more budget deficits,” said Rep. Ward. “This year was different. This year we made real progress for the people of Minnesota.”
“We worked together with Governor Dayton to build a budget plan so that we can honestly balance our budget deficit without gimmicks and invest in a stronger middle class,” said Rep. Radinovich. “Our budget keeps our promises we made and invests in priorities that Minnesotans broadly share and support: education, job creation and middle class property tax relief.”
The Legislature accomplished a number of goals, including:
Balancing the Budget Deficit without Gimmicks: A decade of deep budget cuts and dishonest shifts and gimmicks have caused Minnesota to lurch from one budget crisis to the next, limiting our ability to adequately fund education and crucial priorities. This session, the DFL budget put an end to roller-coaster deficits with a fair and balanced budget that will finally put Minnesota on sound fiscal footing, and deliver key investments for a stronger middle class.
Accelerating Pay Back of Our Schools: The previous legislature borrowed $2.4 billion from our schools. The DFL plan will accelerate a plan to pay back Minnesota’s schools by 2014.
Making Historic Investments in Education: The DFL budget makes a historic $725 million in education. This kind of commitment to our kids’ futures will allow us to invest in all learners - from early education and all-day kindergarten, to reduce class sizes and restore equity in our K-12 schools, to lower tuition and debt for our college students and their parents.
Creating Jobs: The DFL plan makes $89 million in new investments to spur middle class job creation, calling for more job training, workforce development and small business strategies that are proven job-creating engines to strengthen our economy and workforce. The DFL plan is also supporting the jobs of those who care for our seniors. After $1 billion was cut from Health and Human Services in the last budget, we are providing a badly needed 5% pay increase for nursing home workers.
Fairer Taxes for Middle Class Minnesotans: Over the past decade middle class Minnesotans have been squeezed in order to protect the wealthiest Minnesotans. The DFL budget reverses that trend, providing $400 million in property tax relief for middle class Minnesotans. These investments in our future are paid for by raising taxes for individuals with a taxable income greater than $150,000 or $250,000 for joint filers. This group is the wealthiest 2.1 percent of Minnesotans and they currently pay a smaller percentage in income taxes than low-and middle-income earners.
In the final hours of session, Rep. Ward chief authored a compromise $176 million bonding bill. The bill included $20 million for flood mitigation, $109 million for Capitol restoration, $19 million for the Minneapolis Veterans Home, and $8 million in matching clean water grants. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support 122-10.
“I was honored to carry this compromise, bipartisan Capital Investment bill,” said Rep. Ward. “Our beautiful State Capitol, the People’s House, is crumbling and needs repair. Our vets in Minneapolis deserve this funding to improve their Veterans Home, and the flood mitigation and clean water grants are very worthy causes that will benefit the entire state. While this didn’t contain every worthwhile project around the state, I’m very pleased we passed this bipartisan bill tonight.”
“This budget has real reforms and real investments that will help our students, boost our economy, and strengthen the middle class,” said Rep. Radinovich. “After a decade of deficits and disinvestment, we’re changing course; balancing the budget honestly and investing in our future.”
“Minnesota is on the edge of an economic turnaround and our budget will spur progress by finally resolving our deficit, investing in job-creating priorities, a better education system, and a stronger middle class,” concluded Rep. Ward.
Reps. Ward and Radinovich encourage constituents to contact them with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. Rep. Ward can be reached by phone at 651-296-4333 or by email at rep.john.ward@house.mn. Rep. Radinovich can be reach by phone at 651-296-2365 or email at rep.joe.radinovich@house.mn.