Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The legislature this week passed a number of bills that will seriously impact everyone in Minnesota from school children to small business owners. Here is a rundown of the big issues happening this week in St. Paul.
Senate Legislative Office Building Approved
This week, House and Senate Democrats agreed on the final plans for an unnecessary, new $89.5 million Senate Legislative Office Building in St. Paul. This wasteful new building is a gift from legislators to themselves and comes at the expense of Minnesota taxpayers.
I voted against approval of this plan in the House Rules Committee and will continue to work on behalf of Minnesotans—not politicians. This building is a perfect example of wasteful government spending, and it is unfortunate that legislators are putting self service above public service.
Minimum Wage
In a deal between House and Senate Democrats, legislators traded approval of a new $89.5 million Senate Legislative Office Building for a significant increase in our state’s minimum wage.
Here are some of the highlights of Minnesota’s new minimum wage law:
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Minimum wage will increase to $9.50/hr for most employers
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$7.75/hr minimum wage for small employers (under $500,000 in revenue) and for teenage workers aged 16 and 17
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Minimum wage increases will come in three stages and be fully implemented by August 2016
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Automatic inflationary trigger starting in 2018 tied to implicit price deflator with a 2.5 percent cap
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Commissioner of Department of Labor and Industry can suspend inflationary increase during “substantial” economic downturns
Most legislators support a minimum wage increase in Minnesota, but this change is too much, too fast and comes at the expense of employers, nursing homes, caregivers, the unemployed and teenagers entering the workforce for the first time.
Additionally, with the automatic inflationary triggers, how will businesses be able to budget for unexpected wage rate increases every year? I fear this law will mean hiring freezes and layoffs for the very people it intends to help. Minnesota’s workers deserve better.
Instead of passing a reasonable, bipartisan agreement to raise minimum wage in Minnesota, Democrats chose to push through a sizable rate increase in exchange for a politicians’ palace in St. Paul. I believe we need to create a healthy Minnesota economy where everyone who works hard thrives—and this law is not the answer.
Bullying Bill Signed into Law
On Wednesday, Governor Dayton signed a new Bullying Bill into state law. The law’s objective that all students attend a safe and supportive school is good, but the costly unintended consequences are going to have a detrimental effect on Minnesota schools.
Under current law, every public school in our state was required to adopt and enforce an anti-bullying policy. This law, however, will force many school districts to scrap their successful, working policies in exchange for a one size fits all, state mandated plan.
Simply put, this bill takes away local control from educators and administrators. Compliance to this new law is expected to cost Minnesota schools an additional $25 million per year, taking money and time out of classrooms.
And what is more concerning, the law does not require schools to notify parents if their child is bullied or accused of bullying. We should do a better job safeguarding the rights of students and parents.
Teachers, principals and parents are doing a great job on the front lines every day fighting bullying, and districts have implemented policies that work for them. This new law is a band-aid that will not improve schools or prevent bullying. Instead, it’s a feel good bill for Democrats who chose to pass this law over the strong objections of school districts, teachers and parents across our state.
As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of being your state representative. If I can ever be of assistance to you on a matter of state government, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Tony