Dear Friends,
Over the past week, we have debated a number of omnibus bills on the House floor. Each of these comprehensive proposals contains dozens of separate bills, some of which may be very good and others which may be very bad. Therein lies the problem with voting yes or no on an omnibus bill, as the lawmaker must determine if the number of positives outweigh the negatives.
As I’ve said before, omnibus bills are a bad way to conduct business and both political parties are guilty of it. With that in mind, I’d like to highlight a few of the omnibus proposals we’ve debated recently. All of these bills will still need to continue through the process of Senate passage, conference committees, etc.
I apologize for the length of this update, but there is a lot to address below!
PUBLIC SAFETY PROPOSAL APPROVED IN HOUSE
Legislation designed to strengthen public safety in our state received unanimous support on the House floor, and I was happy to support it.
The omnibus bill policy proposal improves predatory sex offender laws, supports crime victims and recognizes their rights, makes criminal justice reforms, and modifies some duties of the Department of Corrections.
The bill now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further debate.
CONTROVERSIAL ELECTIONS BILL PASSES
The House majority’s election bill did not receive unanimous support on the House floor like the bill above. In fact, it didn’t receive any Republican votes at all.
For decades, an elections bill has not moved forward unless it had the support of both political parties. This is so one party cannot take unfair advantage in elections over another. Sadly, this bipartisan traditional agreement didn’t happen last session and it’s not happening again this session.
This bill imposes more unfunded mandates on our local governments and includes a number of controversial provisions. The worst, in my opinion, changes current laws that require a voter applicant to provide a physical address in order to register to vote. Instead, it would allow voters to describe the vicinity to where they’re living rather than listing an actual address.
Gee, just what could go wrong with this idea? (Sorry for the sarcasm, but this really ticks me off!)
Think about it. If this passes into law, no one will need to document that they actually live in the voting precinct, much less our city, state or nation. Just proclaim that you live in the yellow house near 6th Avenue and you’re good to go. Does this not reek of potential voter fraud waiting to happen? Completely ridiculous!
In a time where well over half of U.S. citizens do not trust our election system, we should be strengthening that process instead of weakening it. If the perception is there that the election system is not secure or fair, it creates anger and erodes trust between people. Everyone should come away from an election feeling like it’s fair and secure.
I was an emphatic NO vote on this bill!
EDUCATION POLICY OMNIBUS BILL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A FAILING GRADE
As is usually the case with an omnibus bill, I find provisions I would like to support. There are some good provisions in this education policy omnibus bill: initiatives that would streamline special education paperwork, notifying schools about PSEO students who aren’t attending, and adding criteria for a flexible 4-day school week for those districts who seek it. I am happy to say that my Purple Star Schools provision, which would help support students in military families who move often from school to school, is also in this omnibus bill.
However, there are also some concerning provisions in this bill, including changes to the tiered teacher licenses that could exacerbate our teacher shortages, lower expectations for students and teachers, and includes more mandates for our schools when they are already dealing with the burden of the 65 new mandates placed upon them last year.
One of the egregious provisions would delay the release of school test performance reports. Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment results for schools would not be released for a full EIGHT MONTHS after the students take those tests. This is not fair to parents and community members who deserve to see that data in a timely manner, nor is it fair to schools that need that data for improvement plans. An interesting note, the previous release date for these test results was October and this provision moves the date two months later - after the November elections. I will let you decide why that might be.
Speaking of test scores, the saddest part of this education policy bill is that it does nothing to address student literacy in this state, which is blinking red alert right now. LESS THAN HALF of Minnesota students are able to read proficiently. Math and science proficiency numbers are even worse.
Do they not see the seriousness of this issue?!!!
Literacy is learning. If a child can’t read, a child can’t master any other subject. This bill does nothing to address this literacy crisis. We simply have to change what we are doing at the state level in order to put more of our students on the right track.
I voted no on this bill.
Please click here to watch my House floor comments that address this critical issue.
(PIC)
HUMAN SERVICES POLICY BILL COULD HURT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
There is both good and bad in this omnibus bill, just as in the others. However, this one provision on its own, which I will discuss below, turns my vote to a no vote for this bill.
The provision I am highlighting makes the controversial decision to eliminate subminimum wage for people with disabilities. This is a special employment program for people with disabilities. If this bill passes, some people with disabilities will be unemployed.
Some describe this as a “wage justice” issue for people with disabilities. “Everyone should be paid equally.” However, in the end, this provision will unintentionally hurt severely disabled people.
Within the disability community, ability is a spectrum. An adult with high-functioning autism has very different abilities compared to someone with severe developmental impairment (people who are nonverbal, limited motor skills, etc.). This provision will most likely effectively end the rehabilitative and socialization employment programs that were developed to aid more severely developmentally disabled persons. Many parents and the advocates for significantly developmentally disabled persons have tearfully testified how harmful this would be for these individuals.
This provision removes an employment program that brings choice, dignity, and joy to people with severe disabilities without offering a replacement solution. I cannot support this bill.
HOUSING PROVIDER-TENANT OMNIBUS BILL
An omnibus bill dealing with housing provider and tenant issues also received debate Thursday. While ensuring the rights and safety of tenants is undeniably important, these measures inadvertently place a heavy burden on providers. This is especially concerning for small-scale property owners, like many in Greater Minnesota, who may struggle to navigate these more stringent regulations, and the fees associated with them.
Some of the objectionable provisions included prohibiting housing providers from screening applicants with publicly available information such as eviction actions, and other court proceedings; rebuttable presumptions against housing providers; lack of provisions regarding instances of tenants damaging property; various new provisions allowing for damages and fines against housing providers; and mandatory acceptance of section 8 applicants versus it being a voluntary program in which housing providers decide to participate.
Two things come to mind when I contemplate this bill: unintended consequences, and the sins of a few are penalized upon the many! I voted no.
LOCAL VISITORS
Wednesday was Veterans’ Day on the Hill. It was wonderful to see hundreds of veterans from throughout the state at the Capitol. I attended the rally in the Rotunda and ran into a number of local veterans, including Les Shaunce, the American Legion Freeborn County Commander.
As I have mentioned before, it has been an honor to serve on the House Veterans and Military Committee this biennium and to help represent the many veterans throughout our state. It has been wonderful and refreshing to be a part of the bipartisan work on this committee. Thank you to all who are serving and who have served. You are much appreciated!
Have a good weekend,
Peggy