2010-04-05 Legislative Update, April 1, 2010 This past week the House of Representatives took up the final version of its first budget bill. Unfortunately, this bill continued the majority’s run of misdirected priorities and failed leadership. The bill covers only a portion of the current $994 million deficit. It lacks any reform to address the nearly $6 billion shortfall for 2012-13. Zero-based budgeting, the one positive reform the Democrats accepted on the House floor last week, was removed from the bill by conference committee. My biggest question on the bill is “where are the priorities?” This bill wastes an opportunity to restructure state government. Instead, it reduces the Governor’s funding requests for veterans’ programs 90 percent this year and 100 percent in 2012-13. Funding to shelters for battered and abused women like Blaine’s Alexandria House is also cut. Without long-term solutions for cost-savings and structural reform, the state will continue to face budget deficits, and will fall short of delivering the results you deserve. I know that we can do better. It is time to reform the way government does business and restore the commitment to real priorities. I will continue to work for solutions that promote fiscal responsibility, free enterprise and quality job growth. On a more positive note, the legislature also passed a pro-growth bill this week. This bill includes an angel investor credit and an expansion of the research credit for Minnesota businesses. This is a step in the right direction to increase opportunity and development. I hope the legislature will continue to act on the needs of our families and job creators in the coming weeks. |
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