Dear Neighbors,
Early this morning we finally wrapped up a special session to conclude work on the state budget. This was made necessary by the failure of the Republican-led legislature to finish eleven major bills on time.
Minnesotans deserve effective, transparent and responsible government and my DFL colleagues and I did what we could to try to steer the ship toward a compromise. Instead, as the clock was ticking toward the regular session’s deadline of midnight this past Monday, House Republicans proposed partisan bills that slowed negotiations. Gov. Dayton informed Republicans he would veto budget bills that included controversial policy but Republicans insisted passing these bills, wasting crucial days. The special session that resulted was supposed to be wrapped up in just over a day but ended up taking the better part of a work week.
The first bill passed in the special session was a tax bill, containing many provisions which put our state’s long term fiscal health at risk. Giveaways were included for corporate interests such as big tobacco and other wealthy Minnesotans. With uncertainty at the federal level, and major potential cuts to states under the Trump budget, this is an irresponsible approach. The House also passed the E-12 education bill. This was a better bill than what the Republican Majority put forth in the regular session, and includes greater investments in our public school children, but included controversial language on teacher layoffs and teacher licensing standards.
Next was the omnibus transportation bill. While we recognize the need to address our failing road and bridge infrastructure, this bill doesn’t provide sustainable, ongoing funding. It actually shifts funds away from schools and care for seniors and disabled Minnesotans to transportation. Before it came to the floor, the state government finance bill contained some harmful anti-worker provisions, which brought fears that Minnesota would soon replicate some of the efforts we’ve seen in Wisconsin. We were joined at the Capitol all week by many working Minnesotans calling on Gov. Dayton and the legislature to reject this proposal (photo below). Gratefully, this position was pulled from the bill.
Perhaps the most contentious area was in health and human services (HHS), and I’ve been intimately involved in these negotiations all session, working for a budget which funds health care needs in an honest, accountable fashion. Significant proposed cuts, along with uncertainty due to President Trump’s proposed budget, further complicated this effort.
Over and over again, whether in the form of massive tax cuts, or opening the door to for-profit insurance companies, corporations have been the big winners this session. These giveaways are coming at the expense of children, seniors, people with a disability, and the most vulnerable Minnesotans. Further, the HHS bill shifts costs to counties. This will lead to one of the largest property tax increases in this state. Human services in Minnesota are delivered via unique state and county partnership and it’s irresponsible to increase the burden on local taxpayers.
The final item passed was a bonding bill to fund capital infrastructure improvements throughout the state. The bill included several projects Duluth had been waiting a long time for, including the Duluth Steam Plant, UMD’s Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building, and cleanup for the St. Louis River Area of Concern.
To this point, Gov. Dayton hasn’t indicated whether he will sign or veto any or all of these bills; he has 14 days to decide. I’m sure he would be interested in hearing your thoughts. Contact information for his office can be found here. Of course, I’d also be interested in hearing what you think; please continue to reach out with your viewpoints. All session long I have appreciated and valued your engagement, and I hope you’ll stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Jen Schultz
State Representative