Today, Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake), Chair of the State Government and Election Finance Committee, and the Senate passed a comprehensive budget funding state agencies and providing valuable reforms to increase transparency and hold government accountable for results. With significant bipartisan support of 40-26, the bill passed and will go to the House before Governor Walz signs it into law.
“The State Government budget impacts each and every Minnesotan,” Kiffmeyer said. “I am pleased to see such good policy being put into law without government overreach and overspending. We can have a robust budget with modest programs while still providing the many necessary services in our state.”
Notably, this budget adds a Legislative Audit of COVID-19 Funds, requiring the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to conduct an audit of the state’s response to COVID-19. This audit would conduct a comprehensive analysis of programs to provide testing, vaccinations, and public outreach, along with contracting and other state purchasing to facilitate the response, and methodology used in modeling and forecasting the course of the outbreak. The OLA will then make recommendations based on what improvements and inefficiencies it finds in the audit.
“There is no doubt about it, there were problems in how COVID decisions were made across state government,” Kiffmeyer said. “Minnesotans deserve a deeper look into how things were decided and why. In government, we love to talk about transparency in theory, but very rarely do we see it in practice when we most need it. That’s what this audit will do – provide transparency so this does not happen again.”
Other provisions in the State Government budget include:
- Establishment of the Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity to make sure the Legislature has the needed resources to keep government technology secure. With so many hacks and data breaches worldwide, this is a needed change for the security of the Legislature.
- Election security provisions, including the physical security of elections equipment and electronic recording of absentee ballot drop boxes to increase election
- Daylight Savings Time elimination if/when the federal government permits change
- Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reverse Auction of Drug Benefits, which will save taxpayers money on the state employee pharmaceutical benefits
- Addition of State Historic Preservation Office for state archaeologist report
In the Veterans Department, this bill provides significant resources to support veterans across generations. Many veterans return home from service with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or injuries that lead to substance abuse and in need of intervention, empathy, and kindness. This bill provides significant resources for suicide prevention and crisis support. It also includes a compromise for the Veterans Restorative Justice Act, which provides alternative sentencing options for veterans who have committed certain criminal offenses. Veterans who are in the program would be diverted to receive therapy, substance abuse support, or treatment for needs that are so often tied to service.
There are also financial resources going to fully develop veterans’ homes in Montevideo, Bemidji, and Preston. This will help prepare our care options for senior veterans, especially as increasing numbers of the baby boomer generation require heightened levels of care.
“This bill supports Veterans across generations. We are ensuring our vets have access to resources to adapt to home life after serving our country while acknowledging the adjustment can be difficult. It is time to stop simply thanking our troops but put policy behind our words and put those policies into action. Our Veterans deserve it.”