Friends and Neighbors,
This week is National Police Week, a time to remember and honor the brave men and women who work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe. Thank you to all who protect and serve in communities across our state and nation.
Turning to legislative news, here is the latest from the Capitol.
As I write this on Thursday evening, we are just days away from the constitutionally mandated adjournment, which must occur by Monday, May 19.
This morning, Governor Walz, Speaker Demuth, Speaker Emerita Hortman, and Senate Majority Leader Murphy held a press conference to announce the universal budget targets that have been agreed upon. While many of the specifics were not shared, they did provide an overview of key elements.
The agreement announced this week addresses only about 45 percent of the state’s $6 billion structural deficit, leaving a significant portion unresolved. This deficit is the direct result of unchecked government growth, $10 billion in new taxes and fees, and the complete spending of a $19 billion surplus. Government spending increased by 40 percent in the last budget cycle alone. It is clear that this level of spending is unsustainable and must be brought under control.
On a positive note, an important part of the agreement focuses on prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable. As advocated by Republicans this session, adults who are in the country illegally will no longer be eligible to receive MinnesotaCare. Children under the age of 18 will remain eligible. The rapid and unsustainable growth of this state-funded healthcare program for undocumented individuals had to be addressed, especially in light of the current budget deficit. This step is necessary to protect Minnesota taxpayers and to preserve resources for those who need them most.
Even California Governor Gavin Newsom recently proposed ending new enrollment and requiring current participants to contribute financially to similar programs, after California experienced a comparable surge in participation and costs.
Unfortunately, some Senate Democrats chose not to show up for the subsequent floor session because they disagreed with this provision in the agreement. Staff, lobbyists, legislators, and the public waited for approximately 90 minutes, but without their attendance, the scheduled bills could not be heard.
One bill I looked forward to seeing on the floor this week was the Energy Policy Bill. It passed out of committee with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 9 to 2 and originally included many good provisions focused on affordable, reliable, and clean energy for Minnesotans. It had full Republican support.
However, before reaching the floor, Democrats removed the bipartisan provisions and replaced them with a partisan package that expanded government spending. The revised bill failed to address serious concerns about rising energy costs and the reliability of our power grid.
Republicans offered a series of common-sense amendments to restore balance to the bill. These included lifting the ban on nuclear power, modernizing net metering, expanding hydropower, and providing the tools needed to meet the state’s 100% clean energy mandate by 2040. Each of these amendments was voted down.
Now that a global agreement has been reached, bills will continue to move through the committee process, where they can be debated and amended before reaching the floor. Legislative leaders have said a special session may be necessary, but if it happens, it is expected to be short.
Sincerely,
Gene