Dear Friends,
The biggest news at the Capitol this week was the governor's unveiling of a proposed budget for the 2021-22 biennium.
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET MOSTLY UNREALISTIC
While I appreciate the governor bringing his proposal to the table and giving lawmakers a place to start budget discussions, I find this budget mostly unrealistic and harmful for Minnesota.
This is not a time to raise taxes or start new and expensive government programs. As we continue our recovery from this pandemic and the governor's response to the pandemic, we need to see strong economic recovery to grow ourselves out of this recession. This plan does nothing to do that and will actually hinder that growth.
Governor Walz wants to increase taxes by $1.7 billion. This includes a 10% income tax hike to Minnesota's top tax bracket, a 15% hike to Minnesota's business tax, and tax hikes on cigarettes and vaping products that are regressive and disproportionately affect low-income Minnesotans.
Two-thirds of the taxes in this proposal will sadly hit low income people disproportionately. This plan also raises taxes on our businesses - our job creators - at a time when they are hurting the most. We need our businesses to be successful in order to grow and hire new employees - not to give them an extra punch in the gut while they are already down.
Minnesota is currently projected to face a $1.2 billion deficit according to the November forecast. That number will be updated in late February.
As for spending reductions in his more than $52 billion budget, Governor Walz has proposed $150 million in cuts, or .3%
I am very disappointed that, while Minnesotans have had to significantly tighten their budget belts and reduce their spending, the governor's plan contains little to no state agency spending reductions. As a matter of fact, instead of making modest cuts of at least five percent to agency spending like other states have done, our Minnesota agencies have increased their number of employees. To top it off, the governor has already reinstated full pay to his commissioners' pay reductions made last year. This is simply not fair to Minnesotans, nor is it good business.
I am committed to rolling up my sleeves and working together with the Senate and the Governor on this budget. I want to create a Minnesota budget that prioritizes government's core responsibilities, such as education and caring for the most vulnerable, and a budget that puts Minnesota on a road to economic recovery and makes it an affordable place to live and work.
SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK
It was School Choice week at the Capitol this week. Booker T Washington, former slave and influential statesman, and one of my historical heroes, believed that education is one of the main keys to freedom and success.
As a former fellow teacher, I agree with him. Every child learns differently, and each child and family has differing social, emotional, and educational preferences and needs. One-size-fits-all never works in education and cannot meet the individual needs of every child and family. This is why having multiple and diverse educational setting options - public schools, charter schools, private schools, parochial schools, special interest schools, and home-school - is so important for the success of a child and his/her ultimate success in life.
Thank you to the many public, non-public, and home-school teachers, parents, and administrators who are bringing so many educational choices in Minnesota to help make our children successful!
STRENGTHEN PENALTIES AGAINST THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO MURDER LAW ENFORCEMENT
All of us were shocked last year after learning that a police officer from our area was shot in Waseca. After learning more details about the shooting, many of us became even more troubled.
Officer Arik Matson was ambushed while on duty and shot in the head by a criminal with several previous violent convictions. For months, Arik was forced to endure surgeries and therapy in order to try and get his life back to normal. Thankfully, he has made amazing progress, but his life and his family's lives will never be the same again due to his injuries.
Not long ago, Arik and Megan Mattson, who live in our legislative district, traveled to St. Paul to take part in a press conference in support of a bill I'm co-authoring.
This bill strengthens state criminal penalties against individuals who are convicted of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, judge, prosecutor, or correctional officer.
The current penalty for the attempted murder of one of the above authorities is a maximum of 20 years with the offender becoming eligible for conditional release after 2/3 of the sentence is served. That is rather shocking when one considers that if someone who caused traumatic injury to a police officer such as Arik, who had to learn to eat, walk, and talk again and whose life is permanently and dramatically altered, they can be free after serving a mere 14 years in prison.
This penalty isn't strong enough.
The legislation I'm co-authoring increases the minimum sentence from 20 years with release under supervision after two-third of the sentence is served, to life incarceration with a minimum of 30 years in prison before an early release could even be considered.
I am very pleased to have worked with the bill authors on this legislation, which has been introduced in both the House and Senate. It is being supported by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association as well as the Matson's. To me, the proposal is very common sense, and provides an important change that would help protect our police officers from tragedies like the one that happened to Officer Matson.
Thank you to Arik and Megan for traveling to Saint Paul to be part of this press conference. They did a great job testifying. Thank you, also, to the many police officers and public safety officials who put their lives on the line daily to keep us all safe. You are much appreciated!
SHELL ROCK RIVER WATERSHED DISTRICT VISIT
Senator Dornink and I spent some time at the Shell Rock River Watershed District office in Albert Lea this week discussing the next phase of the Fountain Lake dredging project with administrator Andy Henschel. This is an important project for our area and the SRRWD board will be seeking state bonding dollars this year so it can continue.
Have a good weekend!
Peggy