3 Days Left: District 61 Capitol Report

 

In these final days of session, we continue to work long hours of debate, discussion, and passage of budgets and policies on many important issues. Representative Hornstein is a co-chair of the Transportation Conference Committee, on which Senator Dibble also serves. Representative Long serves on the Jobs, Energy, and Climate Change Conference Committee. Conference Committees are tasked with developing the compromises that can be supported by the Republican Senate, the DFL House and Governor Walz.

As we have been working to pass a budget that reflects Minnesotans values, it is disappointing to learn that Senate Republican Leadership is attempting an end run and undercut of the negotiations. Last night, May 16, the Senate Republicans launched a two-year minimal funding bill for to revert state agencies to levels passed two years ago, and are forcing a floor for a vote later today. Such a maneuver endangers the good faith at the negotiating table.

Monday, May 20 at midnight is our adjournment deadline. The state’s new fiscal year begins July 1. Should we fail to pass a budget in time, the Governor can call us back in to finalize negotiations and pass the final policy, budget and tax bills.

Below you can see of some of the major contrasts between the DFL House and the Republican Senate.

All three of us are engaged with our leadership to provide expertise, support, creativity, flexibility for compromise, but also to ensure that people are not marginalized, nor is our quality of life and shared prosperity undermined.

Thank you to everyone who continue to call and write as we come down to the wire. It is so important to stay engaged right up to the end.