ST. PAUL, MN— Representatives Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) and Deb Kiel (R-Crookston) are urging Governor Dayton to work with legislative leaders to reach joint agreement on budget targets for the 2018-2019 budget by this Thursday, May 4. Legislative leaders agreed to and met Governor Dayton's requests to pass budget bills by March 31 and establish legislative targets by Friday, April 28, and the representatives believe agreement by Thursday will ensure a smooth and orderly end to the legislative session.
“As Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and a member of the conference committee crafting final budget legislation in that area, it would be encouraging for Governor Dayton to help us set joint budget targets by Thursday so we can come to an agreement on a final bill that works for Minnesota citizens, small businesses, farmers, taxpayers and communities,” said Rep. Fabian. “I am also hopeful that in meeting this deadline, he will empower he commissioners to negotiate in an open and transparent conference committee process so we can get our work done for Minnesota.”
“If Governor Dayton joins the Legislature to set global budget targets by Thursday, I believe that will help us put together a bipartisan final budget in the coming weeks that includes meaningful, middle-class tax relief, needed investments for road and bridge projects, and more money for our students and schools,” said Rep. Kiel. “It takes all of us—the House, Senate and governor to come to the table and find common ground. Let’s work together to craft a commonsense compromise that works for the people and priorities of our state.”
On Friday, House and Senate leaders unveiled agreements on budget targets for the 2018-2019 budget, meeting an April 28 deadline outlined by Governor Dayton early last month. The targets include $1.15 billion in tax relief, $372 million in new, ongoing funding for road and bridge infrastructure, and more than $1.1 billion in increased funding for K-12 schools compared to the previous two-year budget. Conference committees have met for the last two weeks and are meeting early this week to hold public hearings on the agreed-upon House and Senate budget proposals. Language and spreadsheets for each of the Legislative budget bills can be found publicly here.
Governor Dayton’s commissioners have refused to engage and negotiate on his behalf, despite repeated requests by the Legislature. At Friday's press conference, House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, requested that Governor Dayton work with the House and Senate to meet a deadline of Thursday, May 4 to establish global budget targets. The Legislature remains well-ahead of schedule, and has continued to focus on avoiding the last-minute lawmaking which has occurred during every budget session of Governor Dayton’s tenure.