Dear Friends,
Work continues in St. Paul as we’ve now passed the majority of the finance bills needed to avoid a government shutdown. As of this afternoon (Tuesday), there are still three bills that need to be passed by midnight on Wednesday. I anticipate all three bills to pass before Wednesday’s deadline, if not late tonight.
This session, extra sessions, and the debate recently has been long and drawn out in the Minnesota House of Representatives as we discuss bills, offer amendments, and vote on these large budget bills. As members of the minority party in the House, Republicans were not included in final negotiations on any of these bills. Many of the policy items were new and had not been discussed in the normal committee process, and floor debate was more extensive.
The entire process has been frustrating for legislators who were shut out of budget negotiations and not able to voice your concerns. Striking secret deals between House and Senate committee chairs and Governor Walz’s commissioners—giving the executive branch overleveraged influence over the content of bills—is the wrong way to enact budget and policy for the citizens of Minnesota because your concerns and voice were missing from much of the process.
Nevertheless, House Republicans have been fighting hard for our constituents by offering amendments to bills—focused on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans. This includes amendments to stabilize the costs of health care insurance, improve public safety to keep our communities secure, and of course bringing an end to Governor Walz’s emergency powers.
During debate on the Higher Education bill last week, I spoke on the House Floor about the importance of adequately funding the University of Minnesota’s police department and keeping our college students safe.
You can watch my speech here or by clicking on the photo below.
Following passage of the Education and Health and Human Services finance and policy bills last weekend, only the Taxes, Public Safety, and State Government Finance bills remain.
I will give you a final update on these and all the bills after they are voted on, there are several provisions that I have championed for Lakeville and Dakota County that may make this my most productive session yet!
It appears now that the taxes bill will include full conformity on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Unemployment Insurance (UI), issues that I support. However, the tax bill will be controversial since there is also likely to be other questionable spending included. Stay tuned on this.
Representing You, independently.
Legislating during the COVID pandemic has not just been challenging, but also very damaging to the democratic process. People on both ends of the political spectrums have contacted me with strong positions and demands and I am pretty sure both will have disappointments. Nonetheless, I remain focused on doing my best for Lakeville and what is right and will make Minnesota stronger. I am here to represent you and find a way to get the work done.
That’s all for today, and into the night.
Hope to see you out enjoying Pan O Prog activities soon!
Jon Koznick
State Representative, Lakeville, 58A