Dear Neighbors,
The first two committee deadlines have passed. Legislators who sit on finance committees—mine are Health and Human Services Finance and Ways and Means—will be even busier as we approach the final committee deadline next Friday. That is the date by which finance bills must have passed their committees. You can see a video about committee deadlines here.
House Budget Targets
House Republicans announced their budget targets this week; the final piece needed for committees to craft a budget for the next two years. I am deeply troubled by what I have seen so far, and not only because it underfunds education, health and human services, and other important areas. Our state is in a situation unlike any I’ve seen before, and yet the budgets don’t seem to reflect that reality.
As you know, Republicans in Congress, along with President Trump, are working on a “repeal and replace” plan for the Affordable Care Act. The bill may change as it moves along, so it’s hard to predict exactly what the end result will be. But whatever the details, we know that Minnesota and Minnesotans will lose a lot of federal support for health care, human services, and important functions like local public health services. As Rochester well knows, health care and human services are not just items on a budget spreadsheet. These are critical services that often mean the difference between health and illness or life and death. They are also important to Minnesota’s economy, which has a large health care sector. As Minnesota faces huge but unknown new costs, it is the worst possible time to cut Minnesota’s taxes—especially by over $1.3 billion, as House Republicans propose.
Unfortunately, the Republican budget also cuts nearly $600 million from the forecast “base” for health and human services, nearly $100 million from state government and veterans, and dramatically underfunds education. It is true that state spending on health and human services (HHS) will still cost more under this budget than it did last year. However, that forecast growth reflects the reality that more of us are old, disabled, low-income, or all three. Republican Representatives submitted bills for consideration in the HHS budget that would cost well over $2 billion in additional spending, which reflects the fact that many Minnesotans still need a hand up.
As the budget bills are assembled next week, I’ll keep advocating for improvements that improve the lives of Minnesotans and can also save resources over the long term.
House Transportation Plan
After releasing their budget targets Monday, we got more details on the House transportation plan on Tuesday. As you know, partisan posturing stopped a long-term transportation plan from happening in the last biennium. We have a projected funding shortfall of nearly a billion dollars a year over the next twenty years just to maintain our current infrastructure. Republicans proposed slashing transit funding and redirecting current revenue from the general fund to a special transportation fund. Transportation has traditionally be funded from different sources---such as the tax on gasoline. Taking the money from the same source that funds education, health care, and environmental programs puts these priorities at risk the next time there is a budget deficit.
There is a helpful article in the Star Tribune summing up the issues. It’s unfortunate that when more than half the state’s roads are more than 50 years old, and more than 40 percent of the state’s bridges are more than 40 years old, we seem to be stuck in the same old debate.
Capitol Essay Contest
Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the State Capitol Grand Opening Planning Committee have announced a statewide essay contest celebrating the historic Minnesota State Capitol. Essay contest winners will be invited to share their essays as part of the State Capitol Grand Opening festivities in August. Minnesota students in grades K-12 are encouraged to submit essays explaining how the State Capitol has shaped our collective past and will impact future generations. If you would like more information for students to enter an essay in the contest, you can follow the link here for contest info.
Capitol Visitors
While we’ve been busy with marathon committee meetings, I’m always eager to talk with constituents and groups who make time to stop by and see me at the Capitol. Here are just a few of the many wonderful folks who visited me this week.
Visitors from the Boys and Girls Club.
Veterans from Rochester visiting me on Veterans Lobby Day.
As always, please feel free to contact me with your question, comments, or concerns.
Warmly,
Tina