This year’s Legislative Session will be among the shortest in Minnesota history. With less than three months to get Minnesota’s work done, lawmakers are already working at a fast pace.
Here are some issues that will come up during the Session:
Capital Investment: Even-numbered year Sessions traditionally focus on a capital investment bill, also called the “bonding bill.” All capital investment legislation requires support from a 60 percent “supermajority” of legislators to pass, so it must appeal to legislators from all parts of the state and in both parties. I am once again advocating for the Mayo Civic/Convention Center expansion and was excited to see that Governor Dayton included it in his list of priorities. I am also working to secure funding for infrastructure improvements at Rochester Community and Technical College, Zip Rail, and local roads and bridges.
Resistance to infrastructure investment over the past few years created a lot of pent-up need for bonding projects. I hope lawmakers will not insist on a small bill just to keep the investment total below an arbitrary limit. Our state’s needs and debt capacity should be our guide. We should take advantage of still-low interest rates to repair, improve, or build state facilities, colleges, and civic buildings while at the same time creating good jobs for Minnesotans.
Minimum Wage: Last year, I supported a bill for a $9.50/hour minimum wage by 2015 and will do so again. It's been nine years since Minnesota raised its minimum wage and we are one of the few states with a wage below the Federal rate of $7.25/hour--an embarrassment for the state and a brake on our economy. Raising the minimum wage saves money for taxpayers because people earning more at work are less dependent on government programs. Employers can also benefit from a minimum wage increase through less turnover and increased productivity from employees.
Budget Surplus: Last week we learned that Minnesota has a budget surplus of $1.2 billion. Although we have more money than expected, Minnesota still has many unmet needs. I favor using some of that money to invest in infrastructure, to help those still struggling to join the economic recovery, and to increase the state’s cushion against future economic downturns. While tax cuts have been on many agendas and some are warranted, we should proceed cautiously. The surplus may be temporary but cutting taxes is permanent spending. Money that is available only once would be better spent on one-time projects so we don’t start another decade of deficits.
Health and Human Services: As Chair of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Policy Committee, I worked hard over the interim getting ready to handle as many issues as possible in our limited time. I also held joint informational hearings about the Board of Nursing’s licensure policies and some chemical dependency issues plaguing our state.
Now that we are in Session, my committee has a packed agenda. For example, we will hear bills that change licensure and/or scope-of-practice for health occupations, bills that affect disciplinary policies for licensed health professionals, a bill to make medical marijuana legal for some purposes, and a bill to reform the newborn screening system that was hurt by a judicial decision a few years ago.
This year I’m sponsoring a bill to protect the health of children in foster care by requiring foster homes to be smoke free whenever feasible. Children in foster care are very vulnerable, and many have asthma and other chronic conditions. When the state is responsible for a child we must protect them as best we can from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Another bill I’m authoring concerns the ink used in tattooing. We know that tattoo inks--even when used by professionals under sterile conditions--can cause serious skin reactions. Little is known about the long-term effects on human health. Most people will be surprised to hear that tattoo ink is completely unregulated. We don’t know what is in the tattoo inks used in Minnesota, but some studies have found inks to contain heavy metals and known allergens. The consumer is completely dependent on the knowledge and expertise of the artist--who can buy the ink or its ingredients virtually anywhere and may not even know what is in it. My bill would add a warning to the consent form and calls for a study by the Minnesota Department of Health so we can know what is in the tattoo ink being used in our state.
Though it will be a busy session, I am always happy to hear from my constituents. You can reach me at Rep.Tina.Liebling@house.mn, or 1-651-296-0573. As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve in Minnesota's House of Representatives.