Dear Neighbors,
Here is an update from the Capitol.
New Legislation
I introduced three new bills this week.
HF 1433 would allow disputes about billing between political subdivisions, like counties, and the State Auditor to be settled by an Administrative Law Judge. Currently disputes with the Office of the State Auditor are settled by that same office. Allowing an objective third party to resolve the dispute will bring more fairness to this process.
HF 1515 prohibits the Office of the State Auditor from charging for the supplemental audits done by former State Auditor Rebecca Otto in 2015 for the Counties of Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Pennington, Red Lake and Roseau. It also appropriates money to refund any amounts that have already been paid by the counties for these unnecessary audits. I continue to believe that these audits were politically motivated and that the counties affected should not be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars when everyone agrees that they weren’t doing anything wrong.
HF 1519 is the Stand Your Ground bill. It clarifies statute on using force in self-defense and removes the “duty to retreat” that is currently in law. It’s a common sense clarification meant to protect people defending themselves, their homes, and their families.
Governor’s Budget Proposal
Governor Walz released his budget proposal on Tuesday. It contains over $3 billion dollars in new taxes, including a $1 billion property tax increase, a 70 percent increase on the gas tax, and a reinstatement of the Sick Tax, which will increase health care costs by $1 billion over the next two years.
I don’t believe this budget was created with the best interest of rural Minnesota in mind. The gas tax will hit rural Minnesotans especially hard, and nothing in the budget addresses the already burdensome health care costs. We need a budget that works for all Minnesotans, not a tax and spend proposal without any real solutions.
When Governor Walz was elected, I was committed to working with him and hoped that he stood by his "One Minnesota" promises. This budget and his decision on Line 3 have made that very difficult.
Around the Capitol
Emerging Leaders Program
Members of the University of Minnesota’s Emerging Leadership Program were at the Capitol this week. A special thanks to our constituents Mark and Kristine Oslund, Nathan and Kristen Haase, Jason and Jill Sobolik, and Dustin and Jenna Grabowska for taking the time to visit Senator Johnson and me.
Red River Water Management
The Red River Water Management Board and I discussed flood hazard mitigation. In spite of the billions of dollars in new taxes, there is no money in the Governor’s proposed budget for Red River flood control. I don’t remember any other governor’s proposed budget ever not having money for these vital projects.
Rural Electric Co-ops
Members of the Roseau, North Star, PKM, and Red Lake Electric Co-ops were in Saint Paul on Tuesday for their Day at the Capitol. I share these groups’ concern about increasing Minnesota’s renewable energy mandate to 50 percent by 2030. If that’s put in place, electric costs will increase significantly for all consumers. We need affordable, reliable base-load electricity. I support all forms of generation, but I won’t support mandates that increase costs.
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My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!
Dan