Recapping the 2019 session
I am writing this column from the floor of the Senate, where we are voting on the budget bills that were part of the end-of-session compromise. Things were quite a bit different this session than last; a new governor and new leadership in the House of Representatives have made for a different dynamic at in St. Paul. In order to find common ground you need to have great relationships, which is something I have made a priority from day one. Without those relationships the outcome of this session would not have been nearly as successful.
In the coming weeks I will write in greater detail about each budget area, but for the time being I wanted to provide you with a recap of a few issue areas I get asked about frequently.
First, the highlights: the $48 billion agreement completely funds state government and the priorities important to each of us, like education, public safety, and care for the vulnerable. Notably, it doesn’t raise regressive taxes on middle class Minnesotans like gas taxes or license tab fees. It also does not include controversial gun control legislation, which has been a hot topic this session. It is a true compromise, where both sides gave a little and both sides got a little.
Education: Our comprehensive E-12 budget builds on the successes of 2017-2018 with 2% annual increases to the per-pupil student funding formula, which is the best and most direct way of getting money into the classrooms. In addition, our bill provides $90 million to help with the rising costs of special education, which has been a top priority of Minnesota’s public schools, as well as additional funding for enhanced school safety measures. In a forthcoming column I will highlight how this bill specifically benefits schools in our district.
Taxes: The compromise tax bill delivers a landmark victory for middle class taxpayers – the first income tax cut in nearly two decades. This alone would be a remarkable achievement in divided government, but there are additional benefits such as tax relief for farmers and mom-and-pop businesses, and local government aid to help rural communities keep property taxes in check, fund public safety, and invest in infrastructure projects. Finally, as a result of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Minnesota’s tax code is out of alignment with federal law. Our tax bill updates our state tax code to match those changes and simplifies the burdensome process filers faced in 2018.
Transportation: The transportation budget honors our longstanding commitment to rebuilding Minnesota’s dilapidated roads and bridges. The agreement invests billions into our aging transportation infrastructure over the next two years, but it doesn’t ask Minnesotans to pay higher gas taxes, tab fees, or sales taxes to do it. In addition, we finally resolved the fatally-flawed MNLARS program by beginning the process of moving to a brand new, privately-contracted system. I am also proud to say that the agreement includes my legislation to reimburse deputy registrars for costs they incurred as a result of the MNLARS fiasco. Remember, these are private business owners who nearly lost everything through no fault of their own. Gov. Dayton vetoed a similar measure last year, but I am glad Gov. Walz realizes how important it is. It is well past time we got this done.
If you have any questions about the budget agreement or any other legislative issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 651-296-0284 or sen.john.jasinski@senate.mn