Greetings!
In this week’s newsletter, I will give you an update on the Senate Office Building, legislation honoring fallen heroes, St. Cloud Chamber Day, the supplemental budget bill and constituents at the Capitol.
Senate Office Building Approved by House Rules Committee
Today, the House Rules Committee approved a $77 million Senate Office Building for state senators. With no Republican support, the proposal now must go back to the Minnesota Senate for their approval.
There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not this Senate Office Building is needed. I'd like to have had an evaluation of current facilities and their use, as well as the possible repurposing of other space in state buildings in the immediate area of the Capitol. This would have given us more information to determine what our space needs would be.
Bills Pass House to Rename Highways after Fallen Heroes
On Monday, the House unanimously passed two bills that name stretches of Minnesota highways after fallen heroes.
The first bill, Senate File 1892, renames part of Highway 36 Officer Richard Crittenden, Sr., Memorial Highway. Officer Crittenden served the North St. Paul Police Department and was killed on September 7, 2009 responding to a domestic disturbance call. He saved a woman being attacked before being fatally shot.
The second bill, House File 2219, renames part of US Highway 8 in Chisago City Nicholas Spehar Memorial Highway. Spehar was a Navy Seal who lost his life in Afghanistan after his helicopter was shot down on August 6, 2011.
Both Crittenden and Spehar died protecting our state and nation. They deserve our respect, and I am glad the House passed both bills to honor these fallen heroes. It is expected that both bills will be signed into law.
St. Cloud Chamber Day
Also on Monday was St. Cloud Chamber Day at the Capitol. Business owners and city officials came down to St. Paul to represent the city and share their priorities for the legislature this session.
That evening, they also hosted a reception which was well attended. I brought several of my legislative colleagues to the reception to meet with business owners from my district. I am glad that the St. Cloud area has a strong voice at the Capitol, and I will continue to represent the interests of central Minnesota in St. Paul.
Supplemental Budget Bill Passes House
On Thursday, the House voted on a 500 page bill that spends $323 million dollars on a number of projects—some worthy and some wasteful.
The real highlight of this bill, however, is a hefty bailout of Obamacare at the cost of $406 million next biennium, and hundreds of millions more thereafter.
With the implementation of Obamacare in Minnesota, Governor Dayton signed an executive order shortly after being sworn in as governor that dramatically expanded Medicaid, anticipating federal dollars to supplement the program. While federal money did come to Minnesota, it was not at the level that the state had anticipated, thus causing a shortfall.
The price of implementing this provision of Obamacare in Minnesota is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year and will into the future as well.
Constituents at the Capitol
Many constituent groups are coming to St. Paul to represent their local businesses and interests. It’s wonderful to meet with people from all over the district and hear their stories. I hope many more of you will have a chance to make it down here this year, and if not, please don’t hesitate to call or email with any questions, concerns or ideas you may have.
This week, I met with a number of constituent groups.
· On Monday, I met with a number of folks from the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
· On Tuesday, constituents from the Minnesota Farm Bureau stopped by to discuss agriculture issues.
· On Wednesday, constituents from the American Heart Association came down for their day at the Capitol.
Thank you for letting me be your voice at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Tim
Today in History: On April 4, 1893, the Minnesota State Flag was adopted.