Budget update
With fewer than 10 days remaining until the May 22 adjournment date, work on the state?Äôs two-year budget continues to move forward. While there are many moving pieces, much of the negotiations hinge on the governor?Äôs involvement, which has, unfortunately, remained relatively static.
After weeks of negotiations, the House and the Senate reached compromises this week on each of the budget areas. Because of the lack of involvement by Gov. Dayton, a decision was made to begin hearing the conference committee reports on the floor and sending them to the governor for his signature. Gov. Dayton has said he will veto many, if not all, of the bills we send him. At the time of this newsletter, we have passed five of the 10 state budget bills from the Senate floor:
*An asterisk indicates provisions that are priorities of Gov. Dayton
Passed: K-12 Education
?Ä¢ Invests in our schools. Minnesota schools will see more than $1.1 billion in increased funding to ensure that every child in Minnesota has access to a great education.
?Ä¢ *Places More Dollars in the Classroom. Focusing the vast majority of new funding on the per-pupil formula will ensure education resources are put where they?Äôre most effective?Äîin the classroom helping students and teachers.
?Ä¢ *Commits to Early Education. Our littlest learners are prioritized thanks to more than $370 million in early education funding?Äîincluding flexible funding for all schools with Pre-K programming.
?Ä¢ Tackles the Teacher Shortage. Key reforms and innovative grant programs will help schools retain the best teachers and address teacher shortages in Greater Minnesota by recruiting the next generation of educators.
?Ä¢ Keeps Kids Safe. Testing for lead in schools will ensure Minnesota kids have clean drinking water.
Passed: Environment & Natural Resources
?Ä¢ Protects Our Outdoors. Minnesota has world-class outdoor recreation activities and tourist destinations. Right-sizing user fees for our state parks will ensure they are maintained and preserved for Minnesotans and visitors.
?Ä¢ *Improves the Regulatory Process. Technology upgrades for the Pollution Control Agency and a more transparent and streamlined environmental review process will ensure Minnesota moves at the speed of business, making it easier to attract and grow good-paying jobs.
?Ä¢ *Defends State Waters. Funding for Conservation Easement Stewardship permanently restores wetlands and wildlife habitats, and reduces soil erosion which will improve water quality across the state.
?Ä¢ Clarifies the Buffer Law. Respecting and responding to feedback from constituents and farmers at meetings held across Greater Minnesota by working to improve the buffer law passed in 2015 and ensure it works for landowners in all parts of Minnesota.
?Ä¢ Stands with Sportsmen & Sportswomen. Recognizing our constitutional right to fishing and hunting, we enable hunters to wear blaze pink and utilize scopes for muzzleloaders, and we help to protect our game and fish populations for future generations by cracking down on poachers and limit violations.
Passed: Health and Human Services
?Ä¢ *Protects Minnesota Seniors. Prioritizes the safety of our most vulnerable with increased investigations of elderly abuse complaints by the Office of Health Facilities Complaints.
?Ä¢ *Supports our Healthcare Workers. Those who care for our most vulnerable citizens will see a 110% rate increase and expanded access through a scholarship program to help recruit and retain quality staff, and address a shortage of healthcare workers.
?Ä¢ *Fights the Opioid Epidemic. New prescription limits, and grants for prevention and treatment of opioid addiction will save lives and fight back against the rising opioid abuse epidemic.
?Ä¢ *Improves Mental Health Treatments. Reforms and grants for a variety mental health services will improve Minnesota?Äôs treatment for those struggling with mental health challenges.
?Ä¢ Reduces Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. Common-sense eligibility checks will prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in our public programs, saving taxpayers millions each year.
Passed: State Government
?Ä¢ Creates Efficient & Effective Government. Manageable reductions and increased reporting requirements will reduce the cost of state government for taxpayers and make it more accountable to the people it serves.
?Ä¢ *Prioritizes Our Veterans.Keeping our promise to National Guard members by enhancing educational and job training opportunities and moving the state forward on approvals for new veterans?Äô homes in Greater Minnesota.
?Ä¢ *Modernizes Election Equipment. Matching grants will reduce the costs of voting equipment upgrades for local governments and improve the integrity of Minnesota?Äôs election system.
?Ä¢ Increases Oversight of Rulemaking. State agencies should not have unilateral power to impose costly and burdensome rules without approval from the legislature. New legislative oversight of expensive rule proposals make state agencies more accountable to Minnesotans.
?Ä¢ Ends Taxpayer Funding of Political Campaigns. Minnesota?Äôs current system allows tax dollars to be funneled to partisan political machines. It?Äôs time to end Minnesota?Äôs wasteful welfare for politicians.
Passed: Agriculture
?Ä¢ *Supports Pollinator Research. Funding for pollinator research at the University of Minnesota will help us better understand this important aspect of our agricultural economy.
?Ä¢ Expands Markets for Farmers. New opportunities provided by livestock investment grants, value-added agriculture grants, biofuels infrastructure, and new market development funding in the AGRI program will help Minnesota?Äôs farm community continue to thrive.
?Ä¢ *Battles Noxious Weeds. Local community grants will help fight noxious weeds, including Palmer amaranth, that threaten our agriculture industry.
?Ä¢ *Fights Plant Pathogens. Funding for rapid detection, control and management of high priority plant pathogens will prevent the spread of diseased plants.
?Ä¢ Reduces Burdensome Regulations. Prohibiting the ?Äúverification of need?Äù before pesticide usage gives farmers flexibility they need to protect their land and crop yields.