CAPITOL UPDATE MAY 4, 2018
As we approach the May 21 constitutional deadline, the Minnesota Legislature has only a few short weeks to pass a number of items. The Senate recently passed a supplemental budget proposal that unfortunately includes a list of harmful legislation. The plan, proposed by the Republican-led Senate, would weaken collective bargaining rights, instruct teachers on what they are allowed and not allowed to say in their classrooms, and cut funding from many critical services that Minnesotans across the state rely on every day. Minnesotans will now have less than 20 days to review and take part in shaping both the tax and bonding bills. It must be noted that it took 60 days for Senate Republicans to draft and then pass a first draft of their supplemental budget bill.
Emergency School Aid
Earlier this week, Governor Mark Dayton released a plan that would provide $137.9 million in emergency, one-time funding to all school districts across Minnesota. After news reports detailed 59 school districts facing significant shortfalls for the upcoming school year, our children need us to step up. There are simply too many schools facing budgetary cuts.This is the perfect opportunity to help school districts across our state keep invaluable teachers and staff members who would otherwise be laid off. And, if we don’t step in, our children would suffer from those consequences. This funding is particularly important for our students in the Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Robbinsdale, and Wayzata school districts. Students would not have another chance to experience this upcoming school year with more resources; now is the only time for them, and it is the only time for us to step up to the plate.
In Committee and Headed to the Senate Floor
Enbridge Pipeline
Last week, the Senate Rules Committee sent a bill that would exempt the Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 pipeline proposal from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) certificate of need and routing permitting process. The bill would allow Enbridge Energy to solely be in control of its ability to construct, own, and operate the pipeline and associated facilities along the route proposed in its applications. Additionally, the bill specifically terminates proceedings of the Public Utilities Commission immediately upon enactment of the legislation.
However, a Minnesota judge’s ruling last week made an official recommendation to state regulators that a proposed pipeline should follow the existing corridor, which currently runs through two Indian reservations and is not the path preferred by Enbridge. Although the ruling does not kill the bill entirely, the existing pipeline would need to be removed and a new one put in its place. Enbridge’s plan originally wanted to leave its current Line 3 in the ground and lay new pipe along a new corridor in Minnesota. In response to the ruling, Enbridge was please the judge supported the project and would review the recommendations on routing. Unless the above legislation passes, the pipeline decision now rests with the PUC.
Elder Abuse Prevention
Legislation moved this week from the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee (HHS) to the Finance Committee. Although the bill does incorporate some important provisions included in the bipartisan recommendations from the independent work group on elder abuse assembled by AARP, it still lacks a number of crucial elements that would create real and necessary systemic changes. At the heart of the bill’s absence is the convening of a task force that would discuss the possibility of requiring the licensure of assisted living facilities, among other recommendations to the Legislature for the following year. Currently, Minnesota remains the only state in the country that does not require these facilities to have a license. The bill was amended in the HHS committee to disallow facilities from operating without a license after a certain date and applies a rulemaking process in case the Legislature fails to act on licensure next year. Although this indicates there will most likely be a licensure process, it is my belief that the Legislature cannot possibly wait another year to further discuss the matter as our seniors continue to suffer each day.
Bonding Bill
While Senate Republicans have yet to release their plan for a bonding bill, the House released its bonding budget on Wednesday. The House bill takes aim largely at repairing, not building, public works across the state. While I agree with the importance of maintaining our existing facilities, we can do more. Governor Dayton released a $1.5 billion plan in January that would finance construction projects across the state along with repairing existing buildings. That number could go up to $2.3 billion if the Legislature chooses to also fund local government buildings.
Tax Bill
Earlier this week, Senate Republicans finally released their tax bill. If the Minnesota Legislature does not conform to the 2017 federal tax bill, roughly 300,000 Minnesotans would face tax increases. Additionally, both taxpayers and the Minnesota Department of Revenue would be forced to navigate through vastly different tax codes. Minnesota is one of a number of states on a short list that bases state income taxes on federal taxable income.
It is extremely important to ensure our state’s budget is balanced and is fiscally stable. I am troubled with the majority’s bill as it would destroy the progress we’ve made over the last eight years. Tax cuts and new spending must be balanced in order to protect Minnesota’s economy from future instability. The Legislature must also deliver on high quality education because our children deserve an opportunity to succeed and flourish in a safe environment. Additionally, I am committed to working hard to making health care affordable and accessible to all Minnesotans, and I will not accept new barriers the tax bill will place in front of Minnesotan working families who depend on those programs.The Minnesota Senate DFL is committed to building the state all Minnesotans deserve with high-quality education, affordable and accessible health care, and fiscal stability. We must reject the detrimental Senate Republican plan.
Senator Latz speaking with Senator Warren Limmer on the Senate Floor this week.
On the Senate Floor
Supplemental Finance Omnibus Bill
Last week, the Senate passed an omnibus finance bill. Included in the bill were a number of budget bills, which were packed with harmful policy and cuts to agencies that Governor Dayton has already signaled he wouldn’t support. Tucked in the bill were numerous controversial items. Although many DFL senators attempted to include amendments that would help many working Minnesotans, Republican senators often voted down the amendments on germaneness grounds, therefore disallowing floor discussion on those amendments.
Senator Latz speaking with a group of students last week on how they can work together to take measures against gun violence.
Gun Legislation
Last week, I held a press conference regarding two gun violence prevention amendments. The first would allow law enforcement to seek an Extreme Risk Protection Order, a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to guns when they show red flags and pose a danger to self or others. The second bill would extend criminal background checks to most private sales, gun show markets, and online transactions within our existing permit to purchase system.
Extreme risk protection orders would save lives by allowing law enforcement to step in before warning signs spiral into tragedies. Often, law enforcement officers are among those who first see or learn of a person in crisis. If law enforcement finds a person poses a significant danger of bodily harm to self or to other persons by possessing a firearm, and deems that less restrictive alternatives are inadequate or inappropriate to the circumstances, a petition for relief would require that person to yield their guns while the order is in effect. In a nationwide study from 2009 to 2016, roughly 42 percent of mass shootings produced documentation that the attacker displayed dangerous warning signs before shooting.
The permit to purchase legislation would allow responsible gun owners to buy firearms after completing a criminal background check. In the states that require a background check before every handgun sale there are nearly half as many suicides by gun, women shot to death by their domestic partners, police officers who die by hand gun fire, incidents of trafficking, and mass shootings.
A Star Tribune poll (please see links below for full polling information) released last month found that 9 out of 10 Minnesotans support criminal background checks on all private firearm purchases. A recent similar poll conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety found identical support among Minnesotans for red flag and criminal background check bills. Support is broad as well as deep, and crosses political, urban and rural, and gun owners and non-owner lines. Additionally, several Senate Republicans have offered support for gun violence prevention bills of this nature.
Unfortunately, both proposed amendments on the floor last week were ruled, along party lines, not germane to the broadly inclusive supplemental budget bill, thus preventing once again any further discussion on the two issues.
Senator Latz addressing the media last week on his plan to offer two gun violence prevention amendments. From left to right: Sen. Susan Kent, Sen. Ron Latz, and Sen. Kari Dziedzic.
Upcoming Events
Sen. Latz in the News
Mankato Free Press: GOP does nothing on gun violence
Star Tribune: Gun proposals, including expanded background checks, fail in Minnesota Senate
Star Tribune: Full Minnesota Poll results on gun violence prevention laws
MPR: Senate turns back bills aimed at 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