ST. PAUL – On June 12, the Minnesota Legislature was called into a one-day special session by Governor Mark Dayton in order to approve a small number of budget bills that had been previously vetoed. State Representative Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) voted in favor of the proposals.
"Republicans and Democrats worked together on all of the budget bills approved in May, and we worked together again in order to address Governor Dayton's concerns," Schomacker said. "It was important to bring this legislative session to a successful conclusion."
Schomacker said one of the most important local provisions approved was new funding for the Lewis and Clark Rural Water project. The $19 million allocation was included in a $180 million capital investment proposal, and it will help continue the progress needed to provide a clean and reliable water source to the residents of southwestern Minnesota.
Schomacker said spending bills for environment and agriculture, jobs and energy, and K-12 education were also approved.
Overall, Schomacker said he was pleased the House was able to do a better job of prioritizing spending this session, stopping unnecessary tax increases from becoming law, and slowing the growth of state government.
"With final approval of this budget, Minnesota will see the third lowest percentage increase in state general fund spending in more than 50 years," Schomacker said. "We were also able to provide record amounts of new money to our nursing homes, and prevented a minimum of a sixteen-cent per gallon gas tax increase from being forced on drivers."