Greetings,
Today marks the deadline for policy bills to be heard in House and Senate committees. This means in order for policy legislation to move forward this session, it must be approved by a committee by the end of the day.
The deadline for most finance proposals to be approved is next Friday. After that, the Legislature will break for the Easter/Passover recess. When lawmakers return, they will have roughly one month to approve a new state budget before the legislature is Constitutionally obligated to adjourn session.
HOUSE BUDGET FRAMEWORK WILL NOT RAISE TAXES
Taxing and spending decisions made by last session’s legislative majority have put Minnesota on the brink of a historic $6 billion budget deficit. Recently, House leaders have agreed to a framework that will begin to right-size our state’s budget and help eliminate the projected deficit in the out years. Worth noting: the House position towards solving the budget deficit crisis is to avoid any tax increases.
In the area of commerce, we will be looking at budget cuts given the anticipated deficit, and I will help craft a new budget that reflects the reduction.
COMMERCE POLICY BILL TAKES SHAPE
As co-chair of the House commerce committee, I will be carrying the commerce policy bill this session. Primarily, this proposal will clean up a number of commerce-related initiatives and will not include any prominent initiative as has been the case over the past few years.
ALLOWING 17-YEAR-OLDS TO SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Many bar and eating establishments have been asking for a change in law that would allow a 17-year-old waiter or waitress to serve alcoholic beverages. This provision has been included in the House omnibus liquor bill that recently passed the commerce committee. If approved by the full House, the bill would also need approval from the Minnesota Senate before being sent to the governor for his signature.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, I'm continuing to support constituent needs. Feel free to contact me anytime at rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-7808.
Have a good weekend,
Tim