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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Tony Jurgens (R)

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Rep. Jurgens Legislative Update

Friday, April 29, 2022

Hello from the State Capitol,

 

A busy week has nearly concluded in the Minnesota House, as the House majority continues to bring forward supplemental spending bills for each area within state government. 

 

As I stated last week, House Democrat budget targets reflected a $7.4 billion increase in state government spending. This would create a $59 billion budget for the current two-year budget cycle, and we just set the current budget less than a year ago.

 

Now their supplemental budget bills reflecting the billions in new spending are coming forward. In some cases, multiple budget areas are being combined into one bill, such as the state government/pensions/transportation/veterans and military affairs omnibus bill. Both Democrats and Republicans create these bill combinations, and it becomes annoying not to have these proposals travel separately through the House. 

 

Eventually, House and Senate conference committees will be formed, where an equal number of representatives and senators will work out a compromise plan that can be approved by both legislative bodies. Hopefully these bills will become better after that process has been completed.

 

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

On Sunday, Governor Walz gave a State of the State address on the House floor. It was good to be back in person for this event. Unfortunately, no guests were allowed in the chamber. Each year, I have enjoyed inviting a local Social Studies teacher to join me so they could then share their experience with their students. I was disappointed not to have that opportunity this year.

 

MOVEMENT ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TRUST FUND REPAYMENT

There are positives to report regarding the status of Minnesota’s unemployment insurance trust fund repayment. 71 days after the Senate approved its version of the UI trust fund fix, the House took up that bill on Monday. Unfortunately, the House chose not to pass a clean bill and instead added a pair of unrelated provisions to the legislation.

 

On Thursday, a House/Senate Conference committee worked out the following compromise: $2.7 billion to fully repay the federal government and replenish the UI trust fund; $500 million for front-line worker pay checks; and authorizing the Legislature to allocate federal COVID-19 funds. The compromise plan was approved by both the House and Senate and was sent to Governor Walz for his signature.

 

The approval of this compromise means rescinding the 15% or more tax increase that was recently leveled on all local employers in order to refill the UI trust fund. 

 

Some might say “better late than never” which I suppose is true. But, there is no excuse for House Democrats delay in addressing the UI Trust fund issue. The result is that employers throughout the state have begun paying higher payroll taxes, and with the passage of this bill they will now need to wait months for the state to refund or credit their overpayment. This was an avoidable and unnecessary burden on employers and state employees brought to you by the leaders in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

 

FENTANYL MEETING AN EYE OPENER

Fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death for young people ages 18-45. Over 100,000 Americans died of fentanyl overdoses in 2021, and illegal fentanyl is responsible for over 80% of those deaths. It’s not just a problem elsewhere, as we have had numerous deaths locally.

 

On Tuesday, a meeting titled ‘The Fentanyl Crisis and Why I Should Care’ was presented in the Hastings Middle School Auditorium. State Representatives Keith Franke and Dave Baker joined me in attending, and Representative Baker spoke about his own personal pain of losing a son to an opioid overdose.

 

Fentanyl poisoning is impacting far too many families, and the speakers and information presented at this meeting were powerful and moving. Two more meetings will be happening in the coming weeks, and I strongly encourage you to attend – May 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hastings Middle School Auditorium, and an ADULTS ONLY session on May 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hastings High School Auditorium. I hope you are able to attend. If you cannot make it, at the very least please watch this video regarding the fentanyl crisis. It’s titled ‘Dead on Arrival,’ and I believe it should be required viewing for any parent and their children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJgPmrLjkuo

 

Have a good weekend,

 

Tony