Dear Neighbors,
The pace of business at the Legislature has been quickly picking up, and the first deadline for bills to get through committee is already next Friday. Here’s an update on what’s been going on at the Capitol.
Budget Forecast
Earlier this week, the February Budget Forecast was announced, and it showed a surplus of $1.65 billion. In addition to the surplus number, the forecast indicated that our state economy is still doing well, with low employment and a stable budget. Since the responsible budget passed under the leadership of DFL legislators and Gov. Dayton in 2013, I’m pleased to say that we’ve been in pretty good fiscal shape.
But while our economy is doing well overall, we should always look at ways to improve it and deliver more opportunities to Minnesotans. We must renew our commitment to strong public schools, affordable college and job training, and access to good jobs and good benefits like earned sick and safe time. We’re also overdue to pass a robust bonding bill with needed infrastructure priorities, including many here in the city of St. Paul.
Predictably, with the ink barely dry on the budget forecast, my Republican colleagues are already calling for massive tax giveaways to the richest Minnesotans and their corporate special interest friends. Considering federal uncertainties with the new administration, this isn’t the road we should go down, as it would be completely irresponsible to put our stable fiscal situation at risk. Minnesotans expect us to budget responsibly, and it would be most unfortunate if we fell back into perpetual deficits due to some short sighted decisions now.
Preemption
Today, the House will consider HF 600, a bill to preempt communities like St. Paul from setting pro-worker policies such as sick leave, family leave, or a higher minimum wage under the disingenuous guise of “uniformity.” Workers in St. Paul fought incredibly hard to gain earned sick and safe time benefits, and this bill would yank the rug out from under them. If those legislators pushing this policy are truly interested in uniform labor laws, I would hope they would join my effort to expand earned sick and safe time throughout the state.
Instead, the bill we’re considering today is divisive, anti-worker legislation which has popped up in legislatures all over the United States. It’s not difficult to understand that rolling back benefits and stopping workers from getting ahead is the opposite of what we stand for, and I will strongly oppose this bill.
Restitution
Last week, I appeared on KARE 11 to share my thoughts on their investigation which discovered that over three years, more than $1 million in restitution payments from criminals never made its way to their victims as ordered by the courts. The investigation showed that efforts are extremely lacking to get this money where it should be, and in many cases, the officials responsible don’t even make a cursory attempt to connect a crime victim with the money owed.
We should all be outraged at this, and when justice isn’t provided, citizens should be able to find accountability. I look forward to working with the necessary parties in the justice system to right these wrongs.
Revenge Porn
An instance where justice might be found, however, is a case in Ramsey County where a man is facing three felony counts under the state’s new “revenge porn” statute. For me, this can only be described as bittersweet as I carried the bill creating this law, which makes it a crime to disseminate private, intimate photos of someone else without their consent.
When photos or video like this are out on the internet, they are out there forever, and it’s unfortunate women (and some men) are subject to the lingering consequences of this behavior. I’m hopeful that law enforcement and prosecutors will be able to hold those individuals who share these without permission responsible, and that this makes others think twice before doing so.
Please keep in touch with your questions and comments as the legislative session rolls on. Feel free to write or call anytime.
Sincerely,
John Lesch
State Representative