Hello from St. Paul,
The 2021 Legislative Session has ended without a completed budget. I am appalled and disgusted with the lack of urgency shown by legislative leadership to complete the work that needs to be done.
This is a budget year. Lawmakers must set a new two-year state budget. On the final day of session, legislative leaders reached an agreement on a budget target that should have been done days if not weeks ago. They didn’t even come close to determining how to allocate that money, leaving that work unfinished.
I have talked all year about the financial difficulties our local business owners and residents forced onto unemployment have faced, and now they face even more because of inaction by our House majority.
Republicans have attempted to approve legislation that would exempt Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) income from state taxes, as well as state taxes on Unemployment Insurance. Yet House Democrats refused to bring the proposal up for a vote on the final day, even though they verbally agreed to eventually pass these provisions. Had they allowed a vote on this provision there is little doubt it would have been approved with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The legislative agreement is between the leaders of the two legislative bodies and the leader of the executive branch. No member of either minority party was consulted or invited to share their thoughts or concerns. Because of this, we now apparently have an agreement that does not end the governor’s emergency powers and gives Governor Walz complete control over spending $500 million in federal aid with little or no legislative input. In addition, the agreement does nothing to stop the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) from implementing the California Cars Mandate through an administrative rule, which will force auto dealers to carry certain vehicles on their lots and ultimately increase the cost of all new vehicles by $1,000 or more.
A new budget must be in place by July 1. A special session now has to be called in order to get the budget work done and hopefully, address the PPP and Unemployment tax provisions. Had any urgency at all been shown by legislative leadership we could have finished the job. Instead, a special session may have been the plan all along, and I find that very discouraging.
ELECTRONIC PULL TAB PROBLEMS
Introduced ten years ago, electronic pull tabs have become very popular in Minnesota. They help bars and restaurants who offer the games and local charities benefit directly from the gaming revenue. Millions of dollars are distributed to non-profits, veterans organizations and youth athletic associations in communities throughout Minnesota due to the popularity of e-pull tabs.
During a recent commerce bill debate, language was included that would ban all electronic pull tab games available today because of the belief that they look too much like casino slot machines. According to state law, Native American tribes have sole rights to slot machine use in Minnesota.
While the commerce bill was approved in the House, it is important to note that the bill has not become law. A compromise was not reached and the Senate did not agree to the electronic pull tab division.
I suspect we haven’t heard the last on this topic. Cities, chambers of commerce and local organizations who benefit from electronic pull tab revenue will need to band together and be vigilant in their opposition to banning these games.
I am opposed to the complete ban of electronic pull tabs. Doing so means a loss of tens of millions of dollars to local charities at a time when we have people and organizations in need. We are just beginning to see daylight from this pandemic; the last thing our restaurants, bars, and charities need is another decline in their revenue.
OUT AND ABOUT….
I was pleased to be able to take part in Hastings’ Public Safety night that was held downtown. It was great to see so many families and to meet up with members of the Hastings police and fire departments, Dakota and Washington county sheriff’s office personnel, as well as city staff. Thanks to Hastings Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly for this photo with Police Chief Bryan Schafer and City Administrator Dan Wietecha.
After a year hiatus, the Historic Hastings Car Show returned last weekend. Hundreds of people were walking up and down 2nd Street with classic cars on both sides, down the middle and on side streets.
Judging by the smiles, people were happy to be out enjoying the weather and each other in addition to the cars.
New this year, the car shows will be held on Sundays from 11:00-4:00. Future dates are June 20, July 18, August 15 and September 19. Thank you to a great group of business owners, the Hastings Downtown Business Association and Hastings Minnesota Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau for bringing back this great community event.
Talk to you soon,
Tony