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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jack Considine Jr. (DFL)

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RELEASE: Legislative session ends with compromise budget agreement

Saturday, May 25, 2019

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House wrapped up a one-day special session early Saturday approving a new two-year state budget. The compromise budget increases investments in education, protects funding for health care, and improves economic security for Minnesotans.

“We’ve reached a budget agreement that takes care of what’s most important to Minnesotans, including our world-class schools, ensuring Minnesotans have affordable, accessible health care, and strong public safety,” said Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato), Chair of the House Corrections Division. “The result wasn’t perfect, but compromise means every side isn’t going to get everything they want. Having said that, I’m going to keep fighting for values that we share to ensure all Minnesotans have the opportunity to succeed.”

As chair of the House Corrections Division, Rep. Considine was instrumental in delivering new investments in safety for Minnesota’s correctional facilities. To increase safety for staff and offenders alike, the budget funds approximately 130 new correctional officer positions over the next four years.

Eliminated in 2002, the bill reestablishes the Department of Corrections Ombudsman position to take complaints, conduct investigations, and make recommendations regarding our prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities. The bill also reforms solitary confinement practices, requires mental health screening and care, incentives for return to the general population, and creates reporting requirements for segregated housing.

In other areas of the budget, investments in education are boosted, with an increase of two percent on the per-pupil formula each of the next two years. It also includes protection of 4,000 voluntary pre-kindergarten slots and $90 million to address the federal government’s failure to properly fund special education. Funding for higher education is also increased by $150 million over the next two years, with $80 million for Minnesota State campuses.

Facing a June 30, 2019 sunset, the budget maintains the funding stream for the state’s Health Care Access Fund. This revenue – a provider tax on health care services enacted in bipartisan fashion 27 years ago – has funded MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance, and other health programs. The budget also protects dental and vision coverage for low-income Minnesotans, requires coverage parity for mental health and substance abuse disorders, and makes the first increase in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) in 33 years.

Middle-class families will see lower taxes with an increase in the Working Family Tax credit and an income tax cut. With increases in Local Government Aid and County Program Aid contained in the budget, local governments will be able to better deliver critical services and reduce reliance on property taxes.

Information on the legislation considered during the special session can be found here.

The 2020 legislative session is set to begin February 11.