ST. PAUL – Entering the final hours of the legislative session, on Friday Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leadership in the House and Senate majorities were set to continue budget talks. This follows a compromise offer from Gov. Dayton Wednesday night to meet the GOP legislature half way on the budget. Subsequently, the GOP responded by moving very little from their prior position, and sought to include controversial policy measures.
“All session Gov. Dayton has been engaged with the legislature to get us toward a state budget that protects the values most important to our state, like strong schools and quality health care, so it’s not surprising he’d be willing to compromise in such a common sense way,” Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL – Duluth) said. “With less than 100 hours left until the end of session, this compromise is very reasonable and allows us to conclude on time, and in a way that delivers essential results to Minnesotans.”
Under Dayton’s “Meet Half Way” proposal, $83 million would be allocated to the state court system to address growing caseloads, and $45 million would go toward cyber security funding in order to combat increasing attempts to compromise sensitive data. Another $10 million would be left on the bottom line to address future financial uncertainties.
From there, half the remaining amount in the state surplus – $1.5 billion – would go toward Gov. Dayton and DFL legislators’ key values like increased investments in education, health care, job creation and public safety, while the other half would go toward the GOP’s main priorities of tax cuts and transportation funding.
“By no means is this a perfect solution, especially with questions about our long-term economic status and uncertainty at the federal level, and the fact that inflation isn’t accounted for on the spending side making it appear as if we have a large surplus,” Rep. Schultz said. “But with the clock ticking, this is the best approach right now to wrap up our work while still protecting the things all Minnesotans value, like investments in our school children.”
Also still on the table for potential consideration is a bonding bill for state infrastructure needs. On Wednesday, the House considered such a bill, but because it failed to acquire a 3/5ths supermajority vote, it did not pass. Significantly, it left out the Duluth Steam Plant proposal and other important proposals for northeastern Minnesota.
“For a bonding bill to receive broad bipartisan support as required by the constitution, it must be regionally and politically balanced, but this bill was not,” Rep. Schultz said. “If the Republicans are serious about getting this done, there is still time to put forth a bill that truly addresses needs in every corner of the state and is deserving of votes by members of both parties.”
Per the state constitution, the Legislature must adjourn for the year by Monday at midnight. If a resolution on the state budget isn’t reached by then, a special session would be called. If agreement isn’t reached by June 30, a state government shutdown could result.