Dear Neighbors,
Yesterday morning, I was joined by other community leaders at a ribbon cutting for a Hiway Federal Credit Union branch at Como Park High School. This is a great partnership giving young people real-world financial literacy education through saving, spending, credit responsibility and more. Paid internships are also offered, giving students valuable job experience.
Here is an update with some recent happenings at the State Capitol.
Fast Track Process for Sexual Harassment Claims
Earlier this week, Rep. Marion O’Neill from Maple Lake and I introduced a series of proposed changes to legislative rules to address allegations of sexual harassment in the Minnesota House. As you’ve likely heard in the news, allegations about inappropriate behavior from lawmakers have emerged, coming from other legislators, a staffer, a lobbyist and a candidate for office. Two legislators have resigned in the wake of these revelations. Often those who experience this don’t speak up due to fear of reprisal, and there is a perception that these matters can get swept under the rug to protect elected officials from embarrassment. We need a better process through which allegations can be brought ensuring both fairness and accountability for all parties.
Under this proposed bipartisan “Fast Track Process,” any allegation brought by a legislator, staff member, lobbyist or member of the public would automatically go to the Ethics Committee. Initially, until probable cause is determined, the matter would remain nonpublic. If probable cause is found, a thorough investigation would take place, and a full hearing would be held within 60 days. Procedures to ensure fairness and due process must be enacted. A ruling must be made within 90 days after the complaint.
People come to the Capitol to advocate for issues important to them and to serve the public, not experience unwanted sexual advances, harassment, or assault. Our “people’s house” must be an atmosphere free of such hostile behavior, and I look forward to working with others on this and other solutions. You can read more about the proposal here, and watch the press conference announcing it here.
Budget Forecast
Last week, Minnesota Management and Budget announced the latest economic forecast, highlighting a budget deficit of $188 million. What’s worse, if unaddressed, the deficit is set to expand to $586 million over the next couple of years.
Going into the 2017 session, Minnesota had a $1.6 billion budget surplus. In less than a year, the irresponsible Republican budget plan turned that surplus into a deficit due in part to tax cuts for corporations, like big tobacco, and the wealthy. Especially with federal uncertainty surrounding health care and taxes, this is unacceptable and irresponsible. Our future ability to invest in the things we value, like a great education for our young people and quality, affordable health care, could be in jeopardy.
Many of us remember the chronic deficits that plagued us during most of the 2000s, and it would be most unfortunate to return to a similar situation. The resulting consequences were terrible for our state, including school funding shifts, skyrocketing college tuition, cuts to local government aid, which led to property tax increases, and a variety of other cuts, shifts, and gimmicks. I hope we can work together this coming legislative session to rethink some of these tax giveaways and return a sense of fiscal stability to the state budget.
Net Neutrality
Yesterday on a 3-2 vote, the Federal Communications Commission ended “net neutrality” protections, which ensure all data and content is treated equally by internet service providers (ISPs). In essence, net neutrality rules, put in place by the Obama administration in 2015, prevent ISPs from creating “fast lanes” or “slow lanes,” or blocking certain applications or websites entirely.
This is one of the most anti-consumer actions taken yet by the Trump administration. Once ISPs can slow down content, perhaps produced by a competitor, or even containing political views the company doesn’t agree with, they can seek payment of special fees to earn preferential treatment. As use of digital streaming continues to grow, removal of net neutrality could change the very way we use the internet.
Several lawsuits are already in the works, and if the federal government is going to kowtow to telecom companies, it will be the responsibility of states to fight back. I’m exploring options for Minnesota to protect consumers from the power of an increasingly corporatized media. Stay tuned.
Happy Holidays!
I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season! Hanukkah is here, Christmas is fast approaching, and then we begin a brand new year. There’s a lot to celebrate, and as you spend time with family and friends celebrating, I hope it will be filled with good food, good times, and the joys that come from spending time with the ones we love.
Sincerely,
John Lesch
State Representative