Dear neighbor,
Happy March! Inside this edition of the Peppin Report:
1) Governor Signs Executive Branch Pay Raise Reform Bill
2) February Budget Forecast
3) Constituents Visit
1) Governor Signs Executive Branch Pay Raise Reform Bill
On Thursday, the House passed the conference committee report of the deficiency bill. The language of report was nearly identical to the version the House initially passed the previous week. It includes funding for the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter that provides specialized treatment services for mentally ill and dangerous adults who are seen a risk to public safety as well as for medical preparation and response to the Ebola epidemic.
The bill also included several important reforms that limits the governor’s ability to raise the pay of members of his cabinet, cuts allocations made to state departments proportionate to the salary increase, freezes the commissioner salaries at the pre-2015 level, and restores legislative oversight of executive branch pay raises.
These changes will encourage discussion about the proper pay scale for state agency heads. I was pleased the governor signed the bill.
2) February Budget Forecast
On Friday, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released their February Economic Forecast. For the current biennium, there is a $477.6 million projected balance. The projected surplus for Fiscal Years 2016-17 is $1.392 billion. Combined with what is left from Fiscal Years 2014-15, there is $1.869 billion available in the upcoming biennium.
According to MMB documents, the surplus is in large part due to the fact that cheaper oil reduces capital expenditures in oil-related industries and allows consumers to deliver spending toward non-gasoline purchases.
The size of the surplus lends credibility to the argument that the 2013 tax increases championed by Governor Dayton and passed by a DFL majority legislature were not necessary. And at a time when Minnesota families are seeing some relief at the pump with lower gas prices, the need for a large $0.16-$0.20 per gallon increase in the gas tax as proposed by Governor Dayton will be a heavy and unnecessary strain on family budgets.
Joyce speaking to the press on Friday with legislative Republican leadership
3) Constituents Visit
I enjoyed meeting with constituents from Minnesota Undergrad Scholars who visited the Capitol to present posters that highlight the research, scholarly, and creative activities of undergraduate students from the Minnesota State Colleges and University (MNSCU) system across the state. The students came to the Capitol to draw attention to the work being done on MNSCU campuses around Minnesota.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me as the legislative session moves forward. My direct line is 651-296-7806. My email address is rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn and my mailing address is Room 459 State Office Building, 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155
Have a wonderful week,
Joyce
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/34A