Mid-Session Report

Hello Friends,

On Friday we reached the half-way point of the legislative session.  It’s a good time to take a break from the fast pace and catch up with friends and neighbors.  We’ll re-convene on Tuesday, April 7^th and spend the next few weeks assembling budgets for the various state agencies.

Public Safety Surplus Equipment Donations Bill moving forward

I’m pleased to say that H.F.1003, a bill that allows police and fire departments to donate their surplus equipment to a non-profit, has passed unanimously through all its committees.  Columbia Heights Fire Chief Gary Gorman brought this issue to my attention, and he testified at all the bill’s committee stops in both the House and the Senate.  I appreciate his commitment and tenacity!  The fire chief from Brooklyn Park has found equipment that is out-of-code here can still be of service in setting up a fire service in, for example, West Africa.  He reported the firemen there having to fight fires in their street clothes.  Later in the month I will present the bill on the House floor (and Sen. Goodwin will do so in the Senate).  I expect it to sail through and be signed by the Governor.

House Republican Transportation package released

House Republicans unveiled their updated Transportation Funding package last week, and it leaves a lot to be desired for our area.  While they’ve finally acknowledged the scale of our roads crisis and increased their ten-year package from a woefully inadequate $2 billion to $7 billion, they take the money from inappropriate areas.

First, they start with another shift, taking from general fund dollars that pay for education, public safety, nursing homes, etc.  They have said they will dismantle MinnesotaCare, under-invest in all levels of education from early learning through K-12 and higher education, cut jobs funding, and, to top it off, give tax breaks to corporate special interests.

Second, they will borrow through bonding, putting $1.3 billion on the credit card, and $1.05 Billion on Government Obligation Bonds which is like taking out a mortgage to fund your driveway.  Road maintenance is an ongoing cost; we do not bond for that.

And third, they create some funny money: they just say $1.2 billion can come by MnDOT “realigning resources” but do not say what that might be.  Funny money.

They also want to cut all transit funding in the metro area, including any additional funding for bus service.  We need a comprehensive statewide transportation solution that meets all our needs in a permanent way.

Our Minnesota constitution mandates “a highway user tax distribution fund to be used solely for highway purposes.”  The state legislature enacts a user fee for vehicles using the roads and an excise tax on gas.  These go into the highway user tax distribution fund and pay for construction and maintenance costs as we go.  This is the responsible way to fund our road needs.  Those who use it, pay for it.  Use it more, pay more.  It only takes an additional $1.25/week ($60/year) to fund it by a 10 cent fuel or gas tax increase and save your car repair costs from all the crumbling roads!

House Republican Budget Priorities

Last week the House, Senate, and the Governor each unveiled their budget proposals based on the best numbers.  House Republicans showed us what their priorities really are.  They want to spend $15 on tax giveaways for corporate special interests for every $1 they spend on education.  They slash heath care spending by $1 billion – all at a time when we have a nearly $2 billion surplus.

Here are the proposals for spending increases and decreases from the forecast:

I can’t see how we would take health care away from Minnesotans trying to work their way into the middle class just to make things a little easier for corporations and special interests.  Share your thoughts with me by email rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn or phone 651-296-4331.

Best regards,

Carolyn