Greetings,
The Easter/Passover break has ended, and lawmakers have returned to St. Paul. With only six weeks remaining in session, the legislature is working hard to finish crafting a budget before May 17.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION - April 16, 2021 at 7:30 am
Following the successful online ‘Community Conversation’ that I held with Representative Demuth, Senator Howe, and area residents last month, plans are in the works to hold another event on Friday, April 16 at 7:30 a.m.
The event is designed to provide you with a legislative update and give you a chance to ask questions of your local legislators.
To register, please click here.
BUDGET BILLS BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE
The House majority is looking to wrap up all of its omnibus finance bills, and will hopefully come up with a product the governor will sign. The best legislation almost always occurs when both parties work together and find consensus on a plan that will make Minnesota better, as opposed to satisfying the political wants of partisan lawmakers and their special interest groups.
With a $1.6 billion budget surplus and billions more coming to Minnesota in federal aid, what better time to use a portion of this one-time money to make grants available to local communities for their needs.
POLITICAL PROCESS TURNING UGLY
Throughout this session, Republicans have been pushing to keep the legislature involved in the political process. This week, we’ve watched the House majority try to circumvent that process.
A glaring example of this: House leadership brought forward nine provisions that had never been previously introduced as bills or had committee hearings on them. This means that neither lawmakers nor the public had the opportunity to see these provisions or have input on them. They included plans to raise the tax on gasoline, registration and tab fee tax hikes, and a billion-dollar light rail tax hike.
No one saw this coming. Lawmakers should be working together, not making one-sided decisions and avoiding the committee process because that process might be uncomfortable.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always I'm continuing to support constituent needs. Feel free to contact me anytime at rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-7808.
Be well,
Tim