CAPITOL UPDATE MARCH 16, 2018
Senator Ron Latz conversing with Senate Counsel during Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee
Gun Violence
Last week, I introduced SF 2959, which would raise the minimum age to purchase or possess semiautomatic assault weapons from 18 to 21. It is common practice to set legal ages for activities that require maturity such as voting, driving, and drinking alcohol. Purchasing and possessing a military-style assault weapon, a weapon designed for war, should require the same, if not greater, ability to act responsibly.
On Monday, two DFLers and two Republicans came together to support criminal background checks for gun sales and transfers. As our children continue to be leaders for change in Minnesota’s gun laws, it is crucial that all lawmakers respond together for the betterment of our communities, despite personal and political ramifications. This week, I met with a group of students who have persistently led discussions among their peers and lawmakers regarding gun violence. It is truly remarkable how they have continued to engage and move policy makers around the country and within our state. I applaud their efforts and join them in their movement to protect our families from gun violence.
Senator Ron Latz with a group of gun violence advocate students, (left to right) Ryan Lee, Eli Curran-Moore, Senator Ron Latz, Adrian Ali-Caccamo, and Ben Jaeger
MNLARS
Since the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS) began last July, many Minnesotans have waited months to collect vehicle titles or weeks to receive new tabs. Others have been unable to transfer specialty plates to new cars, including handicapped plates. In January, Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS), both of which are in charge of the system, sought $43 million in supplemental funding to fix it, including $10 million by March 1. Now that the deadline has passed without additional spending, the state agencies dispatched layoff notices to contractors with dates for the end of the month. Without new funding, those flaws would continue to disrupt the system’s functionality and would not incorporate some of the new features and functions previously planned. On Thursday, Republican senators postponed a vote on legislation to issue $7.3 million for repairs to MNLARS.
Senator Ron Latz speaking on the Senate floor last week
Net Neutrality
On Thursday, I again sought a hearing for the proposed net neutrality bill, SF 2880. In a nationwide GfK poll, conducted on January 11, 2018, 72 percent of those who understand net neutrality favor it. More specifically, 82 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of Independents, and 56 percent of Republicans, support net neutrality. An additional poll from Morning Consult/Politico completed on November 29, 2017, showed 52 percent of those who responded support net neutrality, while only 18 percent opposed it. Despite a growing and overwhelming majority of Americans believe net neutrality is a crucial necessity, there remains those who side with large ISPs over consumers and small businesses. I will continue to fight for the rights of consumers and small businesses who rely on net neutrality.
State of the State
When he was first inaugurated in 2011, Governor Mark Dayton inherited a $6.2 billion budget deficit. After a number of budget cuts and tax increases, the governor and the legislature balanced the budget.The state treasury reported $1.9 billion in budget reserves and a $329 million budget surplus for the second half of the 2017-2018 biennium. Additionally, when Gov. Dayton first began in 2011, Minnesota was enduring a statewide unemployment rate of 6.9 percent. In 2018, Minnesota’s statewide employment rate fell to 3.3 percent, a 17-year low for our state.
On Wednesday, Gov. Dayton delivered his eighth and final State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the Minnesota House Chamber. In his speech, he reflected on his time in the governor’s office in addition to his political career. He underlined fiscal integrity, robust schools, durable infrastructure, and equal opportunities for all, as leading principles during his tenure as governor. At the end of his 30-minute address, he praised both political parties for agreeing to the recently completed state Capitol renovation, and was hopeful this kind of teamwork would be on display this year.
Today, Gov. Dayton released his supplemental budget plan based on the $329 million available general fund balance for the end of the current biennium. Included in the proposal are changes that total $206 million, leaving a remaining budgetary balance of $123 million. Of that $206 million, Gov. Dayton’s budget priorities encompass a number of pressing and urgent issues across Minnesota like the opioid crisis, elderly abuse, capital investments, education, tax relief, and addresses changes to the federal tax bill and the 2017 state tax bill.
Senator Ron Latz, Senator Sandy Pappas, Rabbi Lynn C. Liberman, and Senator Dick Cohen
Meeting with constituents on Fire Service Day on the Hill
Senator Latz in the News
Star Tribune: Assault Weapons Age Raise
KARE 11: More Action Needed to Keep Guns from Domestic Abusers
Minnesota Lawyer: Gun Legislation
Pioneer Press: Assault Weapon Possession
MinnPost: Students and Sen. Latz Meet About Gun Violence
Thank you for your continued interest in the state legislature and our work serving Senate District 46. If you have any time-sensitive questions, comments, or concerns, please call my office at 651-297-8065.
Regards,
Ron Latz