Dear Neighbor,
We learned late last week that Governor Dayton handed out double-digit taxpayer-funded pay raises to members of his cabinet and political appointees. Most of his commissioners were already making six-figure salaries. These pay raises range from 19% to 58% of what their salaries previously were. In fact, one of the governor’s appointees is receiving an $83,577 raise from the previous year.
This is disappointing to see as many Minnesota families have not seen a pay raise of that magnitude in quite a while (if ever). Additionally, it is troubling to see the governor use taxpayer money to give such generous raises to his political appointees.
While the governor should certainly be held responsible for these massive pay raises, it should also be noted that the 2013 DFL majority passed a law that gave the governor the ability to unilaterally raise commissioners pay without approval from the legislature. They seem to be re-thinking that decision in the Senate as they offered an amendment to a bill yesterday that would delay the pay raises 6 months so the legislature can review them.
I am committed to seeing that your hard earned dollars are used responsibly and that the governor and other executives in government are not given the authority to give pay raises to one another without legislative approval. That’s why my colleagues and I in the House are looking for ways to rectify the governor’s actions and see that he is unable to give such lavish raises again without gaining approval from the legislature.
First Bill Heard in Committee
I was honored to present my first bill, House File 638, in front of the Education Innovation Policy Committee on Thursday. HF 638 delays the review of Minnesota’s math standards until the 2020/2021 school year. This is helpful for students, teachers, and administrators given the cumbersome and tedious process that occurs whenever education standards are reviewed. Minnesota already has some of the highest testing standards in the nation, and based on nationally recognized comparative test results, our 4th graders are number 1 in the nation.
Delaying the review process until 2020/2021 will allow our teachers to continue doing what they do best — ensuring that our students are receiving the best education possible and I am happy to report that my bill will be moving forward in the legislative process.
Local Events and Happenings
Last week, I was honored to tour the Federal Premium Ammunition headquarters in Anoka. Federal Ammunition is a cornerstone of the Anoka community and employs over 1700 people. I am proud to represent businesses and manufacturers, big and small, that reflect the values of our community.
I also would like to encourage you to attend the Anoka-Hennepin school board meeting on February 23rd at 6:30 pm. The school board will be hearing the third recommendation offered by the Anoka-Hennepin Anti-Bullying Task Force. It is important that members of the community attend this meeting to voice their opinions on the proposals.
Staying in Touch
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments, or concerns on anything related to state government. It would be an honor to discuss your ideas on how we can make Minnesota better for everyone. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-1729 or via email at rep.abigail.whelan@house.mn. You can also stay up-to-date on everything that is happening in St. Paul by visiting my Facebook page and Twitter account.
Thank you and enjoy your weekend,
Abigail