Dear Neighbors,
The third committee deadline passed on Friday and the House floor has become a very busy place. I’ve also been busy with committee meetings and visitors advocating on the issues important to them. One of the groups that visited last week were members of AFSCME. It was wonderful to have you in St. Paul visiting!
Here’s an update from the Capitol:
House Omnibus Bills
The House took up the Omnibus Tax and Environment bills Thursday and the Omnibus Education and Transportation bills Friday. Every two years the majority party usually groups each part of the state budget overseen by individual committees together and pass them as omnibus bills. Omnibus bills contain many provisions from many individual bills that were heard in committees throughout the session. If you would like to read more about omnibus bills you can click here. After these bills move from the House, they will have to be compared with their companions in the Senate during conference committees, and then return to the full House to be voted up or down by Representatives.
Tax Bill
Unfortunately, in the Omnibus Tax bill House Republicans are prioritizing big tax cuts for businesses and a few hundred estates of the wealthy deceased each year, instead of most Minnesotans. The tax bill is a gift for millionaires and it includes a $161.7 million estate tax cut for the wealthiest Minnesotans. The bill also includes property tax cuts for corporations and businesses who are owned by people who don’t even live in Minnesota, instead of homeowners. More than a billion dollars in tax cuts are paid for by taking millions from nursing homes, schools and other areas of the budget.
I think it is more important to put middle class Minnesotans first with targeted tax cuts that make taxes fairer for everyone in order to improve economic opportunities in every corner of the state.
Environment Bill
Despite our $1.65 billion budget surplus, The Omnibus Environment bill cuts millions from funding clean air, water and outdoor spaces. Minnesota is lucky to have abundant natural resources. We can’t take them for granted, and we need to manage them well. There’s no need to be cutting resources from agencies that will be managing our environmental assets for the next generation of Minnesotans.
Transportation Bill
The Omnibus Transportation bill fails to invest in Minnesota’s transportation needs now and into the future. We need long-term investments in roads and bridges with sustained funding, and this bill doesn’t do it. The House Republican transportation plan pits the Metro against Greater Minnesota, failing to take a “One Minnesota” approach to invest in transportation statewide. Neglecting Minnesota’s transportation needs is unsafe and will cost Minnesotan citizens and businesses more money in the long run. I will keep fighting for a long-term, sustainable solution that improves Minnesota’s roads, bridges and transit everywhere in Minnesota.
Education Bill
The Omnibus education bill was also disappointing. It underfunds our schools, below the rate of inflation, and will likely cause cuts that will result in teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and fewer resources for our kids. The bill eliminates the voluntary pre-K program and phases out its funding and expansion, preventing school districts, and more importantly young families who wanted to see those programs in their own communities from getting them. With a budget surplus the last thing we need to cut is a quality education for Minnesota kids. Education has made Minnesota a leader, but we won’t continue to lead with cuts to our kids’ futures.
Recent Trip to Washington
On Friday, March 10th I was proud to make the journey to Washington, DC to join my son, Mack Sundin, for a ceremony hosted by Congressman Rick Nolan for Mack’s promotion from Senior Master Sergeant to Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air National Guard.
Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force. Family and dignitaries, including Mack’s wife Nikki and their two sons, his mother Deborah Hoban, his brother Doug, my wife Terry and myself gathered in the hearing room of the US House Agriculture Committee in the Longworth House Office Building.
The ceremony included Host Remarks by Congressman Nolan and Presiding Official Remarks by Col. Christopher Will, Deputy Director for the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff. Chief Master Sergeant Sundin’s two sons, Carrson and Camerron, were given the honor of ‘Pinning of Stripes’ on their Dad.
Mack is the National Guard Bureau Air Enlisted Legislative Liaison and is charged with keeping the Director, ANG and the executive staff current on all congressional matters. He advises on policy and standard changes to strengthen the National Guard Bureau’s positions relating to military personnel (officer and enlisted) and civilian employees across the 50 states, the territories and the District of Columbia.
Stay in Touch
I always encourage you to contact me with questions or concerns on legislative issues at Rep.Mike.Sundin@house.mn or 651-296-4308 or toll free at 800-788-1329.
Sincerely,
Mike Sundin
State Representative