Dear Neighbors:
We have reached the final hours of the legislative session, which ends at midnight today. Frustratingly, a vast array of issues remain outstanding:
“Omnibus” Spending & Policy Bill: At about 2:30am this morning (Sunday), the House passed the Republican majority’s 989-page spending and policy bill. This covers a vast array of topics but was finalized only hours earlier, giving the DFL minority very little time to review it. I voted against the bill. Although it contained a number of good provisions, it contained many bad ones, and it failed to address many critical state needs. Governor Dayton has indicated that he will veto it.
Taxes: Earlier this week, the Republican majority passed a tax bill that prioritizes long-term tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, instead of lifting up Minnesota families. The Governor vetoed it, for this reason and because of its lack of school aid (see below). Unfortunately, the revised version of the bill that is being finalized today appears to contain many of the same problems. I hope that it is improved before it is sent to the Governor.
Emergency School Aid: Schools throughout Minnesota - certainly including St. Paul - are facing budget shortfalls that will lead to teacher layoffs, large class sizes, and cuts in important programming. Indeed, public schools continue to receive less real-dollar, per-pupil state support now than in past years. The Governor has called for a portion of the state budget surplus to be spent on emergency aid to help with these shortfalls; he has said that he will not sign a tax bill without this spending. Again, I hope that this spending can be agreed to before session ends.
Elder Abuse: After stunning reports of abuse in Minnesota’s elder-care facilities, the AARP and other advocacy groups have called for significant reform of the industry. Instead, the majority’s supplemental budget bill would simply appoint a series of task forces, with other changes that advocates say would actually provide less protection for our elders. Again, I hope that this can somehow be reversed in these final hours.
Pensions: A bipartisan bill to reform public-employee pensions - protecting employees, retirees, and taxpayers alike - passed the Senate unanimously earlier this session. But Republican leaders have been refusing to bring it to a vote in the House. The pension reforms finally scheduled to receive a vote this afternoon. I hope that the bill does in fact receive a vote and I certainly support these reforms.
Bonding Bill: The “bonding bill” authorizes the state to borrow funds to invest in infrastructure. It’s critical for jobs and for the long-term future of Minnesota, and the timing is right - while interest rates are low. At present, there is no agreement on a bonding bill. If one does move in the final hours, I hope that it includes funding for the RiverCentre parking ramp, which is in deteriorating condition and plays an important role in the health of downtown St. Paul.
Gun Violence: After yet another tragic shooting at a school - this time in Santa Fe - it’s more clear than ever that we need to do more to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Several weeks ago, Speaker Daudt indicated that he expected that bills to do this could pass into law yet this session. The next day, however, he closed the door again, saying that such bills are “dead.” At the very least, the Legislature should advance a stand-alone school safety bill, where there is bipartisan agreement. I continue to hope that Republican leaders will act before midnight.
Cell Phone Use While Driving, Opioids, & Sexual Harassment: The relationship among these three issues is that each is the subject of a proposal having strong bipartisan support, and each is being blocked by Republican leaders. A bill to ban handheld cell phone use has numerous coauthors from both parties and the support of 80 percent of Minnesotans. Another bipartisan proposal would require pharmaceutical companies to help pay for the opioid addiction problems they helped create. A change to make it easier for sexual harassment claims to be heard in court passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House (121-4). But all three measures are currently blocked by special interests, with little prospect of advancing in the final hours.
Thank you for the honor of serving our community,
Dave Pinto
State Representative, District 64B
321 State Office Building
(651) 296-4199
www.house.leg.state.mn.us/64b
facebook.com/repdavepinto
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