Dear neighbor,
We're beginning the fifth week of the 2015 Legislative Session. Each week seems to be busier than the last. Inside this edition:
1) Governor’s Budget Proposal
2) Maple Grove Town Hall
1) Governor’s Budget Proposal
As required, last week Governor Dayton unveiled his budget proposal for 2016-17. At $42.2 billion for the two year biennium, this is the largest budget – and the first over $40 billion – in our state’s history. I have several concerns with the size and scope of this plan.
The growth of spending in the governor’s proposal is, in a word, large. The budget cycle that ended in June of 2013 spent about $35 billion in general fund dollars. This new proposal spends about 20% more than that. I have serious questions about the sustainability of that pace of growth in state spending.
I’m disappointed Governor Dayton didn’t prioritize spending on long-term care and nursing homes – especially given the fact he is proposing to spend $11 million more to implement the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in Minnesota. By the year 2020, Minnesota is projected to have more seniors than school children. I believe protecting the quality of life for our senior citizens should have been more of a focus in the governor’s budget.
We can agree that educating our children is among our top state priorities. And while the Governor’s budget substantially increases education spending, he failed to include any meaningful reforms on teacher licensure or tenure rules. We should begin the challenging discussion and consider those types of reforms as we fund education so that our kids can have a world-class education with an effective teacher.
The Office of Minnesota Management and Budget will release its next budget forecast on February 27. That report will serve as a guideline for the legislature to begin crafting its own budget. In the meantime, I’m eager for the committees in the House to take a closer look at what exactly the governor is proposing to spend.
2) Maple Grove Town Hall Meeting
I’ll be co-hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, February 2) at the Maple Grove Government Center along with Rep. Dennis Smith and Senator Warren Limmer from 7:00 to 8:30. Please join us! I look forward to hearing your questions, comments, and concerns regarding state legislative issues.
If you are unable to make the town hall meeting, feel free to contact me at any time. My direct line is 651-296-7806. My email address is rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn and my mailing address is Room 459 State Office Building, 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155
Have a wonderful week,
Joyce
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/34A