Budget bills recap: Part 2
It was another frenetic week here at the capitol, as the Senate finished work on our initial budget offer. Here’s a recap of what happened this week:
Results of MNLARS independent review
This week the governor’s Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology recommended that Minnesota replace MNLARS and replace it with a package of software contracted from the private sector.
Their recommendations confirmed what my colleagues and I have been suggesting for two years. The private sector can do these tasks and develop these systems better than government can. Gov. Walz’s sincere desire to fix MNLARS has been refreshing, and I will continue to work with him until the Council’s recommendations are fully implemented.
We still have more to do, though. It has been more than a month since the Senate passed my bill to provide assistance to deputy registrars for the MNLARS disaster, yet the House refuses to take up the bill. It’s frustrating that the House is playing games with registrars’ livelihoods, but I hope they will get it done soon.
Honoring our commitment to K-12 schools
Minnesota has long had a bipartisan tradition of prioritizing schools. The education budget we passed this week spends $19.78 billion over the next two years, an increase of 5.1% more than the current budget. This would be the largest commitment to Minnesota’s schools in state history.
The first income tax cut in almost 20 years
With a budget surplus of more than $1 billion, it baffles me that there are still so many people who want to raise taxes on low-income and middle-income Minnesotans. It is time that working Minnesotans get some relief. Our tax bill will hold harmless or cut taxes for virtually all Minnesotans, and it includes the first real income tax cut in nearly 20 years. Senior, parents, small businesses, veterans, and more will all see relief under our plan.
Funding for roads and bridges
As the vice chair of the Transportation Committee, I have worked for two years to improve roads and bridges across Minnesota without raising taxes. I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish, like full funding for Highway 14. Our transportation budget builds on that success. Our comprehensive plan invests billions over the next two years in the state’s transportation infrastructure – without a gas tax, sales tax, or license tab fee increase – and protects existing transportation funds from being spent on non-transportation government programs.
The bill also includes my “move over” legislation, which would require the left-most lane to be used only when passing other vehicles, with exceptions for traffic conditions, inclement weather, hazards, or other circumstances make it impractical.
Taking care of Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens
The goal with our health and human services bill is to shape the fastest-growing area of the state budget into a sustainable resource Minnesotans can rely on for the foreseeable future by eliminating inefficiencies and targeting state resources toward those who truly need care, like the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with children.
The bill also includes several reforms to stop child care assistance (CCAP) fraud and demands the Department of Human Services clean up the program. And if that doesn’t work, our plan defunds CCAP beginning in Fiscal Year 2021. DHS now has a firm deadline to get their house in order.
If you have any questions about these bills or are interested in more detail, feel free to visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SenatorJohnJasinski. You can also give me a call any time at 651-296-0284 or email me at sen.john.jasinski@senate.mn. Talk to you again soon!