Dear Neighbors,
We’ve finished most of our committee work and omnibus bills are moving quickly for a vote on the House Floor. The House Majority’s plan for quick passage includes bundling various issue areas, some of which are not related, into large omnibus bills. One example is the Transportation and Health and Human Services bill, which we will hear next week.
The Senate is planning to do one, massive, all-encompassing bill, so it will be interesting to see how the two legislative bodies will reconcile the differences within their bills.
While the Majority was putting together their final omnibus proposals, the Governor sent a letter to Speaker Daudt and Majority Leader Gazelka with specific and clear parameters to ensure a smooth ending for the 2018 legislative session. A couple include making offers in writing during final negotiations and ensuring these final bills will be available for the public to review. With just four weeks left before the end of session, I was grateful to see the Governor being proactive with these guidelines. You can read more of Governor Dayton’s parameters and find the letter to Republican leaders here.
Omnibus Education Bill Passes
Yesterday, the Minnesota House passed its E-12 and Higher Education Omnibus bill. With an already low budget spending target, this bill falls short on many levels. There is no funding to continue voluntary pre-k funding for over 4,000 of our earliest learners across Minnesota including Bloomington students and school districts who were offering it to families. It fails to adequately address school, student and teacher safety and it woefully underfunds Minnesota universities and colleges, which will lead to higher tuition costs and student loan debt.
All Minnesota kids deserve a world-class education, and the opportunity to do well and succeed. This bill is a huge missed opportunity to invest in the future of our state.
Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Policy Update
Some headway has been made to address sexual harassment and discrimination. A proposed policy change aimed toward eliminating harassment and discrimination at the Capitol was passed in the House Rules Committee on Monday. Provisions within the policy change include how reporting of discrimination and harassment happens and the House’s responsibilities in regards to how complaints are investigated.
Additionally, the Majority Leader introduced a bill that would add clarification as to what constitutes sexual harassment within the Minnesota Human Rights Act. This will have a significant impact on workplaces across the state, and I hope Rep. Peppin will continue to push this bill to the finish line because all Minnesotans deserve to feel safe at their places of employment.
Please continue to keep in touch on the issues important to you and your family. Your input is crucial as these bills continue to move to the House Floor.
Sincerely,
Andrew Carlson
State Representative