Capitol Review: Sen. Bonoff "Budget Bills Not Bipartisan"

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

The week ended with the Senate and House passing all of their omnibus finance bills, which Republican leaders felt was an accomplishment, according to a press release from non-partisan Public Information Services.

While Republicans were happy to pass the bills within the first week of April, DFL-ers didn’t share in the joy, the release said.

“I am concerned that the budget proposal that has been put forward completely eliminates budget reserves – the “rainy day account” that exists for emergency situations,” Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL- SD43/Minnetonka) said. “When the state can’t pay bills, it is forced to borrow from school districts or businesses – something that has happened more than once during the past two years.”

The DFL also claims that the House budget will result in the loss of more than 30,000 jobs, while Republicans argued their focus had been retaining jobs while being more efficient.

The bills will now be heading to conference committees to be negotiated with House proposals. Governor Mark Dayton has said he will not weigh in until differences in the bills are negotiated between legislative bodies.

“These budget bills were not bipartisan bills, only increasing the potential that the Governor will not sign them,” Bonoff said however.

In other business, here’s a recap of the bills authored and co-authored by Minnetonka legislative representatives last week:

Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43)

• On April 7, introduced as a co-author, SF 1130, a bill that would modify unemployment insurance and workforce development provisions. If this legislation passes the term “immediate family member” would grow to include a grandparent along with an individual's spouse, parent, stepparent, son or daughter, stepson or stepdaughter, or grandson or granddaughter.

Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33)

• On April 4, introduced as a chief-author, SF 1081, a bill appropriating money for the Board of the Arts.
• On April 5, introduced as a chief-author, SF 1094, a bill that would allow school boards to reorganize as education boards.

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

• On April 5, introduced as a chief-author, SF 1101, a bill establishing the My Life, My Choices Task Force.
• On April 11, introduced as a chief-author, SF 1160, a bill that would recommend comprehensive eye exams for Minnesota’s public school students.

Minnetonka’s State lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A).

Richfield Patch Editor, Caitlin Burgess, contributed to this report.