Rep. Bills Skeptical Of Dayton Bond Plan

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton recently unveiled a bill for $1 billion of state bonds to spur jobs by financing infrastructure projects.

The idea has drawn criticism from a number of state legislators, including Rep. Kurt Bills (R-37B).

"If spending a billion dollars will create 20,000 jobs, why don't we just spend $5 billion and create even more jobs?" said Bills.  "We can't, because it's not a sustainable job creation method. Servicing the debt will become a larger part of the state's budget and we are already dealing with a massive deficit. I agree that some of these projects are worthwhile, but this is not the way to get them done."

State Rep. Kurt Bills has also signed on to a new voter identification bill that would require voters to have a state-issued photo identification with them when they cast their vote. As currently written, the bill would offer a free state ID to any resident who did not have a drivers license. The state currently charges as much $16.25 for an ID, and the bill doesn't address the potential loss of fees to Minnesota if they are provided for free in the future.

Bills said that while he wasn't sure how the fees question would be resolved, he was sure that it would be addressed in the final version of the bill. "Typically the costs of a bill aren't addressed until later in the committee process. I'm confident the bill ultimately won't have a negative impact on the budget."

Week's highlights

Here’s what happened last week with some bills authored or co-authored by Rosemount's legislators:

New Bills:

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is chief author of a nurse licensure compact bill, SF0230, which would allow nurses to have to deal with fewer licensing issues when practicing in different states. The bill was introduced Feb. 3.

Sen. Gerlach is also chief author of SF0167, a bill that regulates broker price opinions on residential real estate. It was introduced Jan. 31.

Existing Bills

Rep. Kurt Bills is an author of HF0008, introduced Jan. 10. The bill would establish the healthy Minnesota contribution program, where certain MinnesotaCare enrollees would receive a contribution to purchase health insurance.

Rep. Bills is chief author of HF0011, introduced Jan. 10. The bill seeks to increase the research tax credit for corporations, effective after Dec. 31, 2010. The Taxes committee has yet to hold a hearing on the bill.

Rep. Bills is an author of HF0067, introduced Jan. 13, which seeks to limit general fund expenditures during the 2012-13 biennium to forecasted revenues. The bill  is scheduled for a hearing in the Taxes committee on Tuesday.

Rep. Bills is an author of HF0092, introduced Jan. 13, which would repeal the teacher contract deadline aid penalty. The bill has yet to be heard in an Education Reform committee hearing.

Rep. Bills is an author of HF0149, introduced Jan. 20, which seeks to provide health insurance to survivors of peace officers or firefighters killed on duty. 

Rep. Bills is an author of HF0170, introduced Jan. 20, which would get rid of the prohibition to issue a certificate of need for a new nuclear power plant. 

Rep. Bills is an author of HF0173, which would create a Sunset Commission and set parameters for the sunset and review of state agencies. It was introduced Jan. 20.