 Hello Neighbor, Keeping warm this week has not been a problem for me. At the Capitol we are all busy in committees hearing proposed legislation and working with stakeholders to review all sides of each issue. I am committed to listening to all points of view as we develop legislation to best serve the needs of Minnesotans. All of my efforts support the 2021 Minnesota Priorities to recover from COVID, keep life affordable and support families, I’ve outlined several in this newsletter. Legislation in committee ECO bill passes Energy Committee On Thursday, I presented the Energy Conservation and Optimization “ECO” bill in the Senate’s Energy and Utilities Committee. The legislation would expand on Minnesota’s existing Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) program to include load management and efficient fuel-switching while promoting the traditional energy efficiency programs. If adopted, ECO could help save customers energy and money while supporting local businesses in the electrical, heating and cooling, ventilation, and insulation installation industries. While Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power, and Minnesota Power have had a relatively easy time making these improvements every year, electrical co-ops and municipals have really struggled to keep up, This reform eases the requirements on them, making efficiency goals more attainable while ensuring we don’t drive folks out of business. The changes also reward institutions that are already succeeding by giving them the financial flexibility they have earned. Coupled together, these reforms move Minnesota’s energy priorities in the right direction while also allowing us to lower Minnesotans energy bills over time. This is a complex bill and I am committed to working with stakeholders and agencies to get this right for Minnesotans. Requiring oversight for future peacetime emergencies On Tuesday, the Senate’s State Government Finance & Policy Committee heard legislation that would reassert a fair balance of governing power between the legislative branch and the executive branch during future states of emergency. The bill would require the Governor to obtain legislative approval to extend any emergency declaration beyond 30 days. This differs from current law, which allows the Governor to extend a peacetime emergency indefinitely for 30 days at a time and only grants the legislature the option to cancel emergency powers with a majority vote of both the House and Senate. There is undoubtedly a role for emergency powers and affording our executive branch the flexibility to respond to a crisis, but as we edge closer to the year mark of Governor Walz enacting that authority, its reasonable for Minnesotans to ask, “Was this the intent of those powers?” Senate Republicans are committed to restoring Minnesotans elected voice to the process. That doesn’t mean we don’t want the Governor’s input, but it does mean that we want a collaborative process that encourages us to work together to find common ground solutions that serve all Minnesotans. Other provisions included in the legislation: The bill requires the Governor to give three days’ notice to the majority and minority leaders of each body if they intend to extend a peacetime emergency when the legislature is not in session. The bill prohibits the Governor from canceling an emergency order and issuing a new declaration for the same emergency in order to avoid approval by the legislature. The bill clarifies that if the Governor declares two peacetime emergencies concurrently, the same legislative approval of any extension past 30 days is required for the second emergency. View the release and videos online Keeping Life Affordable Balancing the budget without raising taxes The number one job this session is to balance the two-year budget. Senate Republicans will balance the budget without raising taxes just like last time. That means no new gas tax, no new income tax, no new sales tax. The $1.3 billion shortfall can be resolved with budget cuts and by using our budget reserve fund. Click to hear from Sen. Paul Gazelka. Tightening the government’s belt The number one task of the session is closing the state’s budget deficit without raising taxes. Senate Republicans will require each state agency to find 5% savings within their budgets to help accomplish this goal. With families across Minnesota facing incredible financial hardship or, in many cases, on the verge of losing everything due to Covid restrictions, it is perfectly reasonable to ask state government to tighten its belt. Minnesotans cannot afford a tax hike, and it’s unconscionable to ask them to pay more after the sacrifices they have already made over the past year. Click to hear from Sen. Julie Rosen Restoring accountability in our government State government agencies must never forget they serve the people of Minnesota. A key Senate Republican priority for this legislative session is holding the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services accountable. This year the legislature must set a budget and we cannot afford any more waste, fraud, and abuse from these agencies. Over the past few years, we have achieved some meaningful reform despite pushback from bureaucrats but a lot more must be done. These agencies must be reformed to better serve the interests of Minnesotans. Click to hear from Sen. Michelle Benson. Stay in touch I’d like to remind residents that I am always available to answer your questions or concerns. Please email me anytime at sen.jason.rarick@senate.mn or call my office in St. Paul at 651-296-1508. Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving you in the Minnesota Senate! Like me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! Click here to forward this email Minnesota Senate Building 95 University Avenue W St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 Phone: (651)296-1508 sen.jason.rarick@senate.mn You are receiving this email because you have contacted Sen. Rarick Click Here to Unsubscribe |
