Dear Friends,
Yesterday the House voted on what is referred to as the Deficiency Bill. This bill helps agencies cover the costs of unexpected budget shortfalls due to unforeseen expenses. For instance, the Department of Health spent a great deal of money last fall preparing Minnesota hospitals and agencies for the ebola crisis. Fortunately, no cases ever came to Minnesota, but money was needed for those preparations.
The bill also includes funding for the Health and Human Services Department, the Minnesota Zoo, and the DNR. Republicans took the lead in reducing some of the amounts requested and asked agencies to find other efficiencies and cost savings to help cover budget shortfalls.
In addition, we voted to restore legislative authority over commissioner salaries. As you may remember, there has been significant public outcry over $800,000 in pay increases given to commissioners by Governor Dayton last month. That power was given to him by the DFL-controlled legislature in 2013.
Putting the legislature back in control of commissioner salaries will allow the public to weigh in and contact legislators about possible pay increases. This takes the decision-making process from behind closed doors, and puts it in the public view. This was a common-sense fix to a mistake made two years ago, and it received overwhelming bipartisan support passing off the House floor.
Have a great weekend,
Mark Uglem
State Representative, District 36A