Capitol Review: Budget Debate Set to Heat Up

Editor’s Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they’re voting, the bills they’re writing and the issues they’re getting behind. Come back to Minnetonka Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

 Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33)

• Later today, along with Sens. Hann and Bonoff, will introduce SF 372, a bill authorizing school boards to create full-service school zones.
• Later today, along with Sen. Hann, will introduce SF 388, a bill establishing enrollment options for students at low-performing schools.
• Later today, will introduce SF 390, a bill aligning AmeriCorps Innovation to federal law.

Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42)

• Later today, along with Sens. Olson and Bonoff, will introduce SF 372, a bill authorizing school boards to create full-service school zones.
• Later today, along with Sen. Olson, will introduce SF 388, a bill establishing enrollment options for students at low-performing schools.

Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43)

• Later today, along with Sens. Hann and Olson, will introduce SF 372, a bill authorizing school boards to create full-service school zones.
• In a statement, Sen. Bonoff responded to Gov. Dayton’s budget proposal: “The Governor’s plan raises $4.1 billion in new revenue, mostly through the addition of a fourth income tax tier for the state’s top earners….The plan would also reduce state spending by about $2.1 billion. These savings mostly come in the areas of higher education, health and human services, public safety and state government agencies. The Governor uses this new revenue to make investments in early childhood education, all-day kindergarten, veterans programs and public safety measures. The repayment of the school funding shift that was temporarily delayed in 2010 is held off until 2014 as well, but the Governor does provide a plan to return that money to schools. We in the Senate minority have stressed that the difficult budget cuts and revenue decisions included in this proposal are only starting points…It is my hope that legislators will work in a bi-partisan way to craft a budget solution that can pass the legislature and be signed by the Governor.”
• To read the rest of Sen. Bonoff’s latest Capitol Update, click here. 

Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B)

• In a statement, Rep. Doepke responded to Gov. Dayton’s budget proposal: “This week, Governor Dayton announced his budget proposal, which features over $4 billion in new taxes and would give Minnesota the highest income tax bracket in the country. Under the Governor’s proposal, which stands no chance in our legislature, small business could see their taxes increase from 7.85% to 13.95% over the next two years while families making $150,000 or more will see an increase to 10.95%, the third highest tax rate in the country. With an additional proposed surcharge, higher income earners would face a 13.95% tax rate, the highest in the country. And as if tax increases were not enough, Governor Dayton’s budget would also raise state spending by an unsustainable 22 percent.”
• To read the rest of Rep. Doepke’s latest Legislative Update, click here.
• On Feb. 14, co-authored HF 511, a bill removing unneeded mandates from public school.

Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A)

• In a statement, Rep. Stensrud responded to Gov. Dayton’s budget proposal: “Gov. Mark Dayton issued his budget plan today, confirming that he wants to use historic tax increases to set our state's budget… We are working to escape a recession and we face a $6.2 billion state budget shortfall. The governor's plan sends the wrong message to send Minnesotans, who have made it clear they want our state to get a grip on spending. The House passed a bill to prevent some automatic spending increases from kicking in so we could trim $1 billion from our shortfall, but the governor vetoed it. It's clear budget negotiations this session will pit our reasoned, responsible approach to live within our means vs. the governor's tax-and-spend plan that does not address our core spending issues…We cannot afford to support the kind of growth our governor is asking for.”
• On Feb. 17, co-authored HF 573, a bill modifying Medicare and Medicaid medical device coverage provisions.

Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B)

• In a statement, Rep. Benson responded to Gov. Dayton’s budget proposal: “The governor kept the promises he made all throughout his campaign to raise taxes on the highest income earners in the state and increase funding for education, especially for optional all-day kindergarten. Now that Governor Dayton’s budget has published his budget, I’m waiting to read the Republicans’ all-cuts budget proposal. They promised throughout their campaigns that they could balance the budget through only cuts and reform, while protecting the vulnerable and holding K-12 education funding at its current levels.”
• On Feb. 14, co-authored HF 495, a bill which demonstrates agreement among the States to elect the President by national popular vote.
• On Feb. 14, co-authored HF 488, a bill funding full-day kindergarten.
• On Feb. 17, co-authored HF 556, a bill which deals with youth prostitution prevention—specifically giving money to the commissioner of public safety to develop a statewide victim services model.