Budget Negotiations Tense From the Start
With just over two weeks left to negotiate a more than $40 billion budget for the next two years, there is a wide gulf between House and Senate Republicans and DFLers. Caucus leaders from both parties met behind closed doors with Governor Dayton this week to outline a framework to begin budget negotiations.
Before numbers can be agreed to, Governor Dayton has made it clear Republicans must remove the more than 600 policy provisions currently in the budget bills. These provisions run the gamut from halting any future light rail projects to limiting the department of agriculture from governing the use of harmful pesticides to eliminating 40-years’ worth of campaign finance reforms.
The leaders and Governor have announced they will begin working on the higher education and agriculture bills first, hoping to come to some agreements at least early on in the process. DFLers strongly oppose the higher education bill – a $125 million bill that vastly underfunds both the MNstate and U of M systems. It also imposes tuition freezes without providing the funding to do so – meaning cuts are on the horizon for colleges and universities across the state.
This Week in the Senate
Consumer internet privacy language deleted
In the first hundred days of President Trump’s presidency he eliminated rules that would have prohibited internet service providers from collecting and selling their customers’ browsing history and personal information.
In response to actions at the federal level, DFL members of the Minnesota Senate and House authored an amendment that would have protected users’ data. Despite it passing the Senate with only one no vote, the provision was mysteriously removed from the bill in private meetings held by Republicans.
E-12 conference committee report shutters Perpich Center
Tying must-pass budget bills to toxic policy provisions has become common-place at the legislature. One disturbing provision in the E-12 bill closes the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley after over 30 years of top-notch arts education for students all over the state.
PTSD amendment added to workers’ comp proposal
An amendment was offered to the workers’ compensation bill that would protect public safety workers. The amendment would classify post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a presumptive illness for police, paramedics, firefighters, and others.
Abandoning cybersecurity needs
The final Republican agreement for the state government finance omnibus bill includes no new investment in cybersecurity funding. The Senate position originally provided $2 million in new money for MN.IT Services, which provides information technology services to most state agencies. The lack of funding has the potential to make Minnesotans’ data less secure, increase the chances of hacking, and ultimately make state government less efficient and responsive to citizens’ needs.
Medical Assistance claims bill passes the Senate
On Monday, a bill modifying the provisions for Medical Assistance (MA) claims against estates passed the Senate floor by a vote of 64-0. The bill will bring state law into compliance with federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations for recovering MA paid for long-term care services.
Senate approves bill to regulate auto renewal of consumer contracts
The Senate approved a bipartisan bill this week to regulate landscape application contracts by removing the requirement that the contracts be in writing but requires the commercial application company to provide annual written notice to the customer of the customer’s ability to cancel or discontinue the agreement at any time.
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Thank you and have a great weekend,
Jerry Newton
State Senator
District 37