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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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Legislative Update - December 6, 2016

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Greetings from Moorhead,

Minnesota Management and Budget released the November budget forecast on Friday.  The forecast shows a projected surplus of $1.4 billion for the upcoming biennium (fiscal years 2018 and 2019).  This comes after 1/3 of the initial surplus was sent to the state’s budget reserve bringing the reserve to $1.9 billion.  A couple of things that went into the surplus were money left on the bottom line after the 2016 session, tax revenues coming in lower than projected for the first quarter of the current fiscal year and lower than projected health care spending for Medical Assistance.  Another budget forecast will be released in February, and will serve as a more accurate road map for the state’s next two year budget.  Any tax and spending changes enacted during the next biennium need to address health care, higher education affordability, agricultural property taxes and present opportunities to keep Minnesota’s economy strong for all.  For more information on the budget forecast, please go to: https://mn.gov/mmb/forecast/forecast/.

I spent three days last week working with other House members and staff on the New Member Orientation program. After every election the House puts on an orientation program to welcome the new members.  The orientation includes topics such as the overall legislative process, putting bills together, committees, research staff, working with the Senate, lobbyists, the executive branch and balancing life as a legislator.  It’s nice for the new members to learn this information and begin establishing relationships with each other in a non-partisan setting before the session begins.  I appreciated the orientation and felt more comfortable about joining the House when I was first elected.  Now that I’ve been serving for a couple of terms, I appreciated getting to know the new members, serving as a resource and welcoming them to the House of Representatives.

Special Session talks picked up last week as leaders of the four caucuses met with Governor Dayton.  Discussions revolved around financial help for people in the individual health insurance market, the Tax Bill and the Capital Investment Bill. If an agreement can be reached on these issues, a Special Session will be held the week of December 19.  I will certainly keep folks updated as these talks may develop.

Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,

Ben