Dear Neighbors and Friends,
Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s email update. Also, a big thank you to those of you who took the time to visit St. Paul this week.
First Bill Passes House
I was honored to have my first bill brought before the House and passed this past Monday on a unanimous 130-0 vote.
HF 423 allows an ambulance service to contract with a neighboring ambulance organization to provide service when shorthanded. It also would let a first responder with less training than an emergency medical technician drive an ambulance.
This bill will help to ensure that our communities in rural Minnesota have the capabilities to respond to an emergency situation in a timely manner.
As a certified volunteer EMT, I am proud that my first bill to pass the House is aimed at making sure that rural Minnesotans have adequate access to ambulance services.
Empowering Schools and Teachers and Improving Student Learning
On Thursday, House File 2 was on the House Floor for a vote. HF 2 is an effort to give every child a world-class education by giving schools flexibility to recruit and retain great teachers.
The bill does a number of things to improve education for children in Minnesota. Here is a summary of some of the things the bill does:
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Prohibiting the placement of students in consecutive years with an ineffective teacher, as determined through statutory teacher evaluations.
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Increases access to quality teachers through out-of-state teacher license recognition, encouraging regional licensure reciprocity, streamlining alternative pathways to teaching, and reinstating other licensure options.
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Empowers school districts to tap community experts to fill unmet needs to maintain or expand academic opportunities for students.
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Reforming the seniority-only policy currently in state law by requiring a locally negotiated plan for potential teacher layoffs that incorporates teacher evaluations, among other locally determined criteria. Seniority will still factor into staff retention decisions, but will no longer be the only factor.
We have great teachers in Minnesota and effective teaching is crucial to maintaining the quality of our Minnesota schools. Studies have shown that next to parent involvement, teacher effectiveness is the most important factor to a child's academic growth and success. I know we all share the goal of continually improving so that every Minnesota child receives a world class education in our public schools. I believe this legislation helps achieve that goal.
February Forecast Revealed
Last Friday, the Minnesota Management and Budget Office (MMB) released its February Budget Forecast. This updated budget outlook gives the legislature a better picture of the state’s financial situation as we start to craft next biennium’s budget.
Here is how the numbers breakdown from last Friday’s report:
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For the current biennium, there is a $477.6 million projected balance.
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The projected surplus for Fiscal Years 2016-17 is $1.392 billion.
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Combined with what is left from Fiscal Years 2014-15, there is $1.869 billion available in the upcoming biennium.
While it is good to see Minnesota’s economy continue to improve, we need to remember that it is because of hard working Minnesota taxpayers, not the government, that our state has such a large surplus.
According to MMB documents released on Friday, the surplus is in large part due to the fact that cheaper gas prices allows consumers to deliver spending toward non-gasoline purchases.
With that fact in mind, you may be surprised to learn Governor Dayton stuck by his proposal to raise the price of gas on Minnesotans.
The fact that the state now has a $1.9 billion surplus, any discussion on imposing a new gas tax should be finished.
As we begin to craft a budget and prioritize issues here at the Capitol, I am committed to seeing that you are able to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket as well as investing in things that matter most to Minnesotans like roads and bridges and our nursing homes.
Pro Life Bills Pass Health and Human Services Reform Committee
On Wednesday, the HHS Reform Committee heard several pro-life bills. As someone who is committed to protecting the unborn, I was happy to support these bills. For as long as I have the privilege to serve our district, I will always vote in favor of protecting the unborn.
Constituent Visits
I met with members of the MN Wheat Growers and MN Farm Bureau on Wednesday. J.L. Meagher and Scott Swenson of Elbow Lake, Blaine & Margie Rasmussen of Rothsay, and Craig Lichtsinn of Wheaton were able to make it to St. Paul. We talked about Ag Research, Estate Taxes, Wolf Depredation and Property Taxes.
On Tuesday, I visited with Jim Wolf of Good Samaritan Society and Brandon Borgstrom with Evansville Care Center about the importance of increasing funding for Long Term Nursing home care.
On Tuesday, Dianne Radermacher of the Upper Minnesota River Watershed and Steve Berkner, Mayor of Ortonville, testified on behalf of a bill I introduced to provide funding for the Flood Control projects in Browns Valley and Ortonville. This bill would also provide money for the Big Lake Project near Herman.
Staying in Touch
If you are planning on being in St. Paul this session, please feel free to contact my office by phone at 651-296-4929 or via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn to set up an appointment. I would love to meet with you and talk about ways we can make Minnesota better. Again, it is an honor and privilege to represent you and your family for the next two years. I am here to be YOUR voice in St. Paul and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously.
Thanks and talk to you soon,
Jeff