Dear Neighbors:
There are now just days remaining in the legislative session, which is constitutionally mandated to end on Monday, May 23. There continues to be no agreement on the biggest issues of the session: a long-term funding plan for transportation, changes in taxes for the current two-year cycle (competing tax bills have been under negotiation since the 2015 session), and a bonding bill for state borrowing for long-term investments. The Republican majority in the House has continued to insist on the zero budget targets that I've discussed in previous updates, "starving out" funding for other priorities such as education (early learning, K-12, and higher ed alike), health and human services, and much more.
Time is getting very tight. My DFL colleagues and I serve in the minority in the House, but we will push as hard as we can to ensure that any final resolution of all of these issues lives up to our values as a state.
Following the Legislative Action
Much of the work in these final days is occurring in conference committees, where select Senate and House members negotiate over the differences between the bills passed by each house. To keep track of any particular issue, consult the House Public Information Services here - it has great resources on bills, votes, and much more. And please don't hesitate to contact my office of course. I'll continue to work to keep you updated.
Dave Pinto
State Representative, District 64B
321 State Office Building
(651) 296-4199
www.house.leg.state.mn.us/64b