Dear Neighbor,
We’re making our way through what has been the busiest stretch of floor activity this session, with votes taking place on numerous omnibus finance bills the majority has assembled to create the state’s next two-year budget.
As previously noted, the total package spends the state’s $19 billion surplus and increases state spending by 40 percent while failing to provide meaningful tax relief, such as eliminating the state tax on Social Security.
Here is a rundown of some recent developments in the House:
Gun provisions in public safety bill
The House majority this week passed a public safety bill (S.F. 2909) which includes anti-Second Amendment language from two controversial gun control bills: H.F. 14 (universal gun registration) and H.F. 15 (red flag confiscation orders). If it needs to be said out loud, I oppose these measures and voted against this bill.
Instead of addressing the root causes of violent crime, this proposal will create strict and impractical hurdles for law-abiding Minnesotans seeking to exercise their Second Amendment right. Criminals looking to acquire firearms will not follow the complex new process laid out in the proposal and it will do nothing to stop the flow of firearms among criminals.
I will continue opposing gun-control bills at every turn. Our efforts should be focused on enforcing the numerous laws we already have governing firearm transfers before the Legislature creates new ones that will only harm law-abiding citizens.
As if that weren’t bad enough, there are other parts of this bill that go after the First Amendment. For example, a measure in the bill creates a registry where the state would create a government database of perceived “hate incidents” that fall short of criminal acts. To be clear, we’re not talking about “hate crimes” because those already are tracked.
In other words, the bill gives state authority to collect data about crimes of bias that have not been reported to law enforcement – so there is no documentation that the event happened – but people still could be placed in a “hate incident” registry.
Where is the long-term care funding?
If they wanted to act, it would be a snap for Democrats who have a trifecta of power in St. Paul to address the long-term care crisis our state is suffering by providing much-needed funding.
So why aren’t they?
Or, better yet, why did House Democrats approve an omnibus human services finance bill (S.F. 2934) this week which does the opposite by turning a blind eye to the long-term care issues in our state and severely underfunding this portion of the state budget?
The House Human Services Finance omnibus package (S.F. 2934) came to the floor accounting for just .01% of the Democrats’ $72 billion budget proposal that consumes the state’s $19 billion surplus and increases state spending by 40 percent across the board. It is beyond unacceptable to dedicate such a small fraction of their record budget to help nursing homes pay essential caregivers a livable wage and preserve access to care across the state.
Clearwater County just announced it was doing away with in-home care due to a lack of funding. How much more bad news do we need before the Democrats stop dragging their feet?
Conference committee on veterans
I am pleased to have this week gained a position on a conference committee in charge of preparing a veterans and military affairs package for final passage in the Legislature.
The bill (H.F. 1937) passed the House and the Senate by a combined 197-1, including 131-0 in the House on April 18. I am optimistic the bill can be reconciled by the joint House-Senate conference committee in short order so it can come back for votes on final passage soon.
There was overwhelming support for this bill on initial passage and we need to do what’s right for our veterans by keeping the momentum going/ Let’s iron out this bill, take votes on final passage and send it along to the governor to enact as soon as possible. I appreciate that we have put partisanship aside in this committee and look forward to carrying on this spirit of cooperation to finish the job for our veterans.
The initial language approved by the House provides $367.7 million for programs to help veterans over the 2024-25 biennium, a 52-percent increase. Operational funding for three new veterans homes constructed in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston is provided.
Marijuana bill is flawed
The House approved a bill (H.F. 100) to legalize the recreational use of marijuana this week. Whatever your thoughts are on this issue in general, the actual bill that received approval could serve as a case study for how to not write legislation. The bill contains so much bureaucracy and carve-outs for special interests that it’s bound to create serious problems and result in numerous unintended consequences if it were enacted as passed. We’ll see if a conference committee can resolve some of the many flaws in the House language.
Education bill puts mandates over students
The education bill (H.F. 2497), recently approved by the majority, puts mandates over students and takes away local control from school districts – with even more carve-outs for special interests. Democrats will say this is historic investment in schools but, with all the added mandates and administrative bureaucracy, many districts will be left with more difficult budgets than they are experiencing now. The bill also would be a blow for in-home childcare by pushing more children toward childcare centers that don’t work as well in many parts of in Greater Minnesota.
Conference committees are busy putting budget bills in shape for consideration on final passage. Let’s hope major improvements are achieved.
Until next time, have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Matt