Two weeks after spring break ended, joint budget targets are still not in sight. Senate Republicans set a date of April 28 to achieve joint targets with the House. Legislators and staff are still waiting.
In the meantime, conference committees have been keeping a fairly busy schedule, taking a look at items that are similar in both House and Senate bills. But without a target of how much money to spend, the bulk of the work of crafting a bill both bodies can agree on must wait.
Squabbling continues between Republicans as they try to lay blame on Governor Dayton for not negotiating with them over budgets. Meanwhile, precious legislative days tick by. We have three weeks left of session to accomplish passing a two-year budget for Minnesotans.
DFL caucus leader Sen. Tom Bakk and Assistant DFL caucus leader Sen. Jeff Hayden hosted a Twitter Town Hall on Thursday to discuss the budget. The two leaders talked about the legislative process and why there are a series of important deadlines legislators must meet in order to have a successful end to session. The discussion was robust, and the conversation was seen more than 30,000 times on Twitter.
While budget negotiations are ongoing, both DFLers and Republicans are asking the House when or if they will release a bonding bill. The Senate released its bonding bill back in January. Last year no bonding bill passed, meaning the last time a significant bonding bill was passed happened in 2014. Bonding pays for critical state-owned infrastructure including buildings on college campuses, waste water infrastructure, parks and trails, airport and railway upgrades, economic development projects and much more.
Will the Real ID conference committee pass a neutral bill?
It’s coming down to crunch time. Starting January 2018, Minnesotans will need Real ID licenses to get on an aircraft, otherwise they’ll need to show a passport to board. Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses are already required to gain access to certain federal facilities, military bases, and nuclear power plants.
Both the House and the Senate have passed their versions of the Real ID bill and the joint conference committee is working on what path Minnesota will take to comply with the federal rules.
Thanks to the Senate DFL, the Senate bill does not contain unnecessary and duplicative language regarding non-compliant licenses for undocumented immigrants. In contrast, the House bill requires applicants to demonstrate lawful status even to obtain a non-compliant license. This language is unnecessary to implement Real ID. Undocumented immigrants are already unable to receive driver’s licenses in Minnesota due to a 2003 administrative rule.
The intent and the direction of the Senate is to send a neutral bill to the Governor and not mix immigration and the issuance of Real ID together. Hopefully, House Republicans are beginning to realize that Real ID will fail if they don’t compromise and take out the politically charged language that has nothing to do with compliance.
With only three weeks left in the legislative session, Senate DFLers remain hopeful negotiators will compromise and the Real ID bill signed into law will not include unnecessary restrictions against undocumented immigrants receiving driver’s licenses. (SF 166/ HF 3)
DFL Listening Tour: Destination Willmar
A small group of DFL senators are heading to a second listening tour this weekend. The senators, who hail from Twin Cities suburbs, will be arriving in Willmar to listen to Minnesotans about their needs and thoughts on the current 2017 Legislative Session. The senators will also take a tour of the town and surrounding areas.
The visit follows a similar listening tour that took place in Grand Rapids in late March. The visits are intended to take the pulse of Greater Minnesotans and re-connect with areas recently lost in the November election.
Senators say they look forward to hearing from all kinds of people, and taking what they learn and sharing it with their DFL colleagues in St. Paul. They say they want to turn what they learn into action to help keep Minnesota a wonderful place to call home.
Senate Bonding Committee holds hearings
Over the course of this past week the Senate Capital Investment Committee heard several bills and agency testimony from the Housing Finance Agency and the Public Finance Authority. The Senate bonding bill has been on the floor for several weeks.
Omnibus Legacy bill passes Senate, moves next to conference committee
The omnibus legacy bill was approved Monday by the full Senate on a vote of 52-12. The bill appropriates biennial funding of $529 million from the four legacy funds established by the “Legacy Amendment” that was approved by Minnesota’s voters in 2008.
Finance Committee hears bill to limit access to abortions in Minnesota
This week the Senate Finance Committee heard a bill that would require abortion facilities in Minnesota to be licensed by the Department of Health. Similar legislation in other states has been considered unconstitutional and Governor Dayton has vetoed a similar bill in the past and has indicated he will likely veto the legislation again if it reaches his desk.
Chief Supreme Court Justice testifies against Republican judiciary budget
In a rare appearance by a chief justice, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea testified against the Republican House and Senate judiciary budget bills in conference committee.
Vikings Stadium authority reform bill passes Senate floor
A bill passed the Senate this week to alter the structure of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which is responsible for the operations of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Forced to bring in the Guard: Republicans aren’t doing enough for our state’s military
Minnesota has worked hard to provide incentives for people to join the National Guard. However, tucked inside the state government funding bill are budget reductions and shifts that cut enlistment bonuses and tuition for guard members and could force eventual closure of some greater Minnesota armories.