Dear Neighbors,
Much of the time at the Minnesota House is now shifting from committee work to the House Floor, where we are starting to consider the various “omnibus” finance bills covering each area of the state budget. With this comes some long days and nights considering sizable pieces of legislation.
That isn’t to say time in committee is completely over. Last week, in the House Transportation Committee, I had the opportunity to present HF 2514, a bill to fund construction of a new turn lane and bypass lane on Highway 169 by the Greenway Fire Station in Calumet. This would provide easier access on and off the roadway for trucks and other vehicles responding to calls.
I was pleased to have Greenway Fire Chief Ladd Finke joining me for the bill presentation, and I hope this important local improvement can get done.
Tax Bill
Last Thursday, we considered the Omnibus Tax Bill, the first of several such comprehensive budget packages from the Republican Majority. This bill in particular was sizable, both in regard to the bill itself (over 400 pages) and the amount of tax breaks that were contained in the bill, with much of them benefitting the richest Minnesotans. Overall, I think such a large bill crowds out investments in other areas of our state budget – like schools, health care, and broadband – and risks our state’s long-term fiscal health. While we have a surplus now, the size of this could irresponsibly lead us into future deficits.
That isn’t to say that there aren’t positive pieces in the bill. The bill will allow more seniors to subtract Social Security income from their state income taxes, creates a first in the nation tax credit toward student loan debt, and a fix in the Taconite Municipal Aid formula, which will increase the amounts under this to Hibbing, Chisholm and Buhl by about 15 percent.
Unfortunately, the bill also includes a massive cut to the Minnesota estate tax, which will benefit just a few hundred of the richest families in Minnesota. The bill also prioritizes tax credits for those who donate to private schools, an unprecedented move which would certainly divert funding available to our public schools. Absent from the bill were key items which support working families and our communities, like an increase in the Working Family Credit, more Local Government Aid, and long-term increases in the homestead credit and renters refund. I hope that by the time we adjourn in May, we can find a more balanced approach on the subject of taxes.
Education Bill
Friday, the House passed the Republican Omnibus Education Bill. Largely because of the priorities of their Tax Bill, they shortchange Minnesota’s students in this bill. It includes a 1.25 percent increase each of the next two years in the per-pupil formula; this doesn’t even come close to covering inflationary costs. Consequently, if this becomes law, our schools could count on layoffs, larger class sizes, and decreased critical services for students. In a time of budget surplus, as a teacher, I find this to be unconscionable.
Further, the bill completely eliminates the state’s successful, high-demand voluntary pre-K program. If we truly want to close the achievement gap, getting our all of youngest learners off on the right foot is a necessity. The Republican education bill also would close the Perpich Center for Arts Education, a key legacy of our wonderful governor from Hibbing.
As we go forward, for me, each of these bills is a question of priorities. I’d love to hear about your priorities, too. Please stay in touch; I welcome your calls and emails anytime.
Sincerely,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative