By Rep. Paul Anderson
The new session of the Legislature is underway, with the official swearing-in ceremony taking place last Tuesday. Even though it’s the beginning of my sixth term in office, it’s still a thrill to stand in the House chamber and take the oath of office to defend the constitutions of both our country and our state. There are challenges to be sure, especially at the federal level of government, but hopefully the spirit of compromise will prevail and solutions can be agreed upon so we can return to more normal operations in Washington, D.C.
The issue of building a wall at our southern border has become the focal point of this latest impasse and federal government shutdown. But, is it really a wall that’s at the bottom of this stalemate? Or is it simply one side refusing to give in to the other? Has the spirit of compromise been lost in today’s political world? If it has, then we are all in for tough times. Because, to me, a basic tenet of politics is working together for the common good and, at some point in negotiations, both sides giving ground on something to reach mutual agreement. Let’s hope and pray that happens soon.
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The latest economic forecast had Minnesota basking in the light of a nearly $2 billion surplus. However, the last two months have seen revenue amounts coming in fall below that forecast. For the months of November and December, that shortfall amount was $102 million.
We need to exercise caution when deciding what to do with the surplus. That’s because unless specifically noted as one-time-spending, any new spending or tax cut becomes permanent. So, if you increase spending in this biennium, that becomes part of the base budget and will occur going forward unless legislative changes are made. The same holds true for permanent tax cuts, which lower revenue coming into the state and will continue doing so going forward unless and until revisions are made to the tax code.
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We have many areas that need attention. Improving our capacity to treat those with mental illness is high on that list. We have fallen short of providing the number of beds needed and the staff to care for and help those who need it. We also need to provide more oversight in the area of elder care. If situations of neglect or abuse occur, the state should be ready and able to step in and correct the problem.
On the economic side, our state must deal with its tax situation. Because of changes made at the federal level, filing taxes for the past year will probably be more complicated and more expensive for most Minnesotans. For businesses and farmers who take advantage of fast depreciation, conforming with federal Section 179 expensing is very important. In addition, changes made in treating like-kind exchanges need to be carefully examined and a resolution agreed to.
We are the only state in the country with a divided Legislature, so high-profile issues like gun control and single-payer health insurance will be contentious. So will the ever-present issue of raising the gas tax. And then, there’s the issue of making the recreational use of marijuana legal in Minnesota. I can’t understand why we would want to add yet another drug to those already available to get “high.” Yet, it seems there will be a push to get that passed, as well.
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