Omnibus SeasonOne of the most expensive bills we faced this week was the Transportation Omnibus bill with almost $4 billion in fees and tax increases. Increases in automotive sales tax and registration will make it more expensive for every Minnesotan to drive. Even those who don’t drive will see increased transportation costs with a $.75 fee on same-day deliveries including things like Uber Eats, Amazon, and more. This bill is also stuffed full of wasteful spending on Democrat wish list items including expanding metro light rail and a passenger train to Duluth. After multiple hours of debate on the Housing Provider/Tenant Omnibus and Housing Omnibus bills the House DFL passed both HF 917 and HF 2335 along partisan lines Cost increases and a shortage of housing have been major problems we have tried to address in the Housing Committee and yet these bills do little to address the underlying problems that have put our state in this situation. This plan is heavily weighted toward metro area funding as well as rental subsidies and the lack of workforce housing is especially disappointing. The Housing bill includes a 0.25% increase in retail sales tax for the seven-county metro that will go towards the rental assistance program. We also faced the disappointing Education Omnibus bill that includes 65 new mandates that strip local control from our school districts. These mandates are in fact so egregious that after they are paid for most schools will have less to fund their current programs than they do now. “Unfortunately, I think this is potentially one of the most damaging sessions I’ve seen since I’ve been a superintendent.” Said Stillwater Superintendent Michael Funk on the legislation. I’m disappointed that even with the historic investment in education these dollars are getting lost in the bureaucracy instead of funding students. |