Dear Neighbors,
The 2016 legislative session ended in chaos at midnight Sunday, May 22, with the two top priorities left unfinished: a transportation and a bonding bill.
There was no comprehensive, long-term transportation funding plan agreed to by the House Majority. In the end, the House Republican Majority’s opposition to transit funding was greater than their support for roads and bridges statewide.
The bonding bill was hurriedly cobbled together in the final hours on Sunday and as we know now, it contained several miscalculations and omissions. In fact, we just received an updated spreadsheet from House staff with corrections on Wednesday this week- 2 days after we adjourned for the year.
There was an element of déjà vu from last year on the last day of session; deals being made behind closed doors without public input and expectations from House GOP Majority to take votes on these last minute deals no one had read. Poor time management and a lack of compromise seems to be recurring themes of the 2015-2016 biennium.
Below are more detailed highlights of what was actually accomplished; these bills were debated and passed on our constitutionally-mandated last day to legislate.
Bonding
A single copy of the bonding bill spreadsheet outlining the statewide projects, which had $300 million tucked away for one-time transportation funding, was presented the House DFL Minority one hour before midnight. With very little time to review projects included and no accurate information about the bill, it passed and went to the Senate. The bill was amended in the Senate requiring it to return to the House to be voted on and re-passed with transit language. Speaker Daudt rushed to adjourn instead.
Taxes Bill
The omnibus tax bill passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 123-10 after several changes were made in the Taxes Conference Committee. The original House GOP Taxes bill had $2 billion in tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy few, but after a few House and Senate Taxes Conference Committee meetings over the weekend, House Republicans accepted several provisions from the Senate Democrats. The revised cost of the bill came to approximately $857 million over the next three years. A few of the measures include: expanded child care and working family tax credits; a new student loan tax credit of up to $1,000; deductions and credits for contributions to 529 college savings plans; and a military pension exemption for retirees. There was additional funding for LGA also. Although we must be cautious with the long term effects of tax cuts on our state budget, I was glad to see the tax cuts go to the middle class instead of the exclusively wealthy few.
Unfortunately there was a tobacco tax cut included in the bill which reduces the tax on tobacco products in the future by $32 million. There are more urgent needs for these revenues other than a giveaway for big tobacco.
I did support the overall bill due to the provisions that supported student loan assistance, struggling families with sky rocketing child care costs, veterans benefits and LGA improvements. Compromise involves accepting the fact that to get what you want, sometimes you have to accept things that you don’t like.
Upcoming Town Hall Meetings
I, along with Representative Wagenius and Senator Torres Ray will be hosting a town hall on Tuesday, June 7th from 6:30-8:00 pm at Longfellow Park located at 3435 36th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Please bring your questions and concerns on any state related matter. I look forward to seeing you there.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to attend future town hall meetings this summer.
Please always feel free to share your input on any issue that faces our community and state. I look forward to hearing from you and can be reached at 651-296-0173 or by email at rep.jim.davnie@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
State Representative