ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House approved the Republican state budget bill early Sunday morning. The omnibus supplemental budget bill, while totaling 990 pages and encompassing every area of the state budget, left out adequate funding for emergency school aid, the state opioid crisis, eldercare and other critical priorities. The legislation was placed on lawmakers’ desks just a few hours before they were set to vote. Gov. Mark Dayton indicated earlier Saturday that he would veto the bill.
Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) released the following statement:
“In the four years I’ve been in the legislature, Republican leadership has demonstrated a complete inability to govern effectively. For such a massive bill that violates the constitution by combining multiple subjects with policy and finance, being rushed for a vote with just hours left in the session, I would have hoped the Republican budget could have delivered on so many of our shared values. Instead, the bill does nothing to make health care more affordable, only gives meager investments in our students, does next to nothing to address elder abuse, and fails to hold Big Pharma accountable for their role in the opioid crisis. The GOP has again, shamefully, put special interests ahead of Minnesotans’ interests.”
Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) released the following statement:
“Entering this session I had such high hopes of finding consensus on many of the things our community cares about. Commitments were made from both DFLers and Republicans alike to tackle key issues like eldercare and the opioid crisis. We had real solutions right in front of us which would likely save lives, like a penny-a-pill fee on drug manufacturers, and consumer-driven solutions to protect seniors and vulnerable adults. Minnesotans deserve better than the task forces and other half measures the GOP has advanced in this budget bill, which will do little to solve these problems. Deep down, I still believe Minnesotans care for one another and want to see everyone succeed. This budget fails to uphold this fundamental value.”