(My apologies for the long post - this is my first diary since winning my election last November, to the Minnesota State House. You can learn more about me and my district here. This is an email update I sent to my constituents from the State House floor today. I am also, from time to time, posting on my blog, The Fireside Blog.)
Dear Friends and Neighbors-
We are on the House Floor today in an unusual Saturday session. We are
taking up the Transportation Finance bill, one that I've worked very
hard on this session as a member of the Transportation Committee. I am
unfortunately missing one of my favorite events of the year - the
Friends of Wild River State Park annual maple syrup and pancake
breakfast (with freshly-boiled syrup!). But this Transportation Bill
will help meet an incredible need facing the people I represent: traffic
congestion and unsafe roads.
I spoke frankly with my MnDOT Area Manager last week. I asked him
whether the state can fund the North Branch Bridge at highway 95 without
more funding. His straightforward answer was - not before 2009,
certainly. Without this bill, North Branch would have to levy $4.2
Million in property tax bonding to build the bridge.
For a long time, the DFL House Caucus has listed its top priorities as
"Education, Health Care and Property Tax reform." I've long thought that
one critical issue has been missing, and spoke several times directly
with the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader as well. I am
satisified that we're taking the Transportation Finance Bill before all
others, because the need is so great across the state.
One last specific note before I share with you a little bit of what's
happening on the floor. The 2005 Transportation Bill would have provided
$17 million in state funding just to our Chisago County county-state-aid
roads. Because the bill did not become law - and because we then had the
worst county roads in a MnDOT study - the county was forced to bond $14
Million in property taxes to make up for the lost revenue.
We're now about 30 minutes into the floor action on the bill.
Representative Holberg offered an amendment that would violate our
balanced budget principles over the next two years - the budget "tails"
as they are called around here. I voted no.
As Vice-Chair of Public Safety, I've worked closely with the Republican
Lead, Rep. Paul Kohls. I'd now call him a friend. His amendment to strip
out the major funding of the bill just failed - and I voted no on this
one as well.
Many of these amendments were discussed through the three-month
committee process this year. We worked diligently in a bi-partisan
manner to write the bill, which passed with only 3 nay votes in
Committee.
Rep. Sviggum is offering an amendment that would micromanage the
transit system. My professional training is, of course, in architecture
and planning. I know that we need to trust professionals to design a
system that works well - and that we need to fund the system to reach
the critical mass so that transit is available to areas where there is
real need and desire for it - like Chisago County. My largest city is
29.5 miles away from the closest connection to the metro transit system,
though we are part of the metro MnDOT district and pay for the roads the
busses ride along. I will vote against the Sviggum amendment.
A BRIEF BREAK FROM THE TRANSPORTATION BILL for news on local projects:
This week has been very busy. Committee deadline was this Friday for
all bills to make it through their policy committees. Several of our
local projects had promising hearings this week.
I am especially interested in House File 1664 - to fund a cellulosic
ethanol feasibility study for Chisago County, in partnership with the
University of Minnesota and our surrounding counties of Pine and
Chisago. Please check out the bill here:
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/...
As you can see from the bill, the sutdy will consider the capacity for
growing paririe grass on our marginal sandy soil as well as the wood
products of the northern part of our area - and the existing seed stock
the DNR holds. If you'd like to chime in supporting the study funding,
you can contact Rep. Al Juhnke, the chair of the Agriculture Finance
Committee, at Rep.Al.Juhnke@House.mn.
Mary Cordts, director of Parmly Senior Services in Chisago City,
testified with me on behalf of House File 1620 - to raise Chisago
County's nursing home rates to the metro area rates. Chisago County is
classified as part of the metro area for housing purposes generally, but
the legislature has left Chisago County out of the metro area for
unknown reasons the past few years. Ms. Cordts gave a passionate appeal
to raise their rates so she can pay their staff the wage they deserve,
for taking care of our elders and seniors. Health and Human Services
Chair Rep. Tom Huntley tells me it is "highly likely" that we will get
the bill in the final Omnibus package.
I also learned this week that the Rush Line Transit Corridor will
receive $500,000 for infrastructure improvements, in the Capitol
Investment bill that we will vote on this Tuesday evening.
On Friday, the 6th graders from Chisago Lakes came to the Capitol.
Senator Olseen and I had a great time with them! My bill, House File
289, will prevent any school groups from being charged a fee for
visiting the State Capitol. A $2 fee per student was charged in 2004 - a
terrible policy that needs to not be implemented again. I understand
that the ban on student fees will be included in the final bill for the
Heritage Committee as well.
And of course, this Transportation Bill today is the North Branch
Bridge funding bill.
For the last two weeks, we've met in committee every day, hearing
hundreds of bills. We've started at 7:30 am and continued often until
10:30 pm or later! I'm glad we've passed the deadline and are focused on
Floor actions. I am also grateful that many of our important local
projects are in good position to be part of larger packages.
BACK TO THE TRANSPORTATION BILL...
We have completed consideration of the amendments. We are now on the
"third reading" of the bill, which is the final vote on the North Branch
Bridge bill. The 2005 author of the bill, GOP Rep. Ron Erhardt, is
speaking now about the historical underfunding of MnDOT.
Rep. Juhnke is now speaking about the property tax reform in the bill.
I will soon speak about the North Branch bridge project, and the
property tax help that comes with this bill.
After I spoke urging a "green" vote, the Republican lead on our
committee, Doug Magnus, spoke about the bill as well. He pointed out
that there are a lot of good elements in the bill, even though he'll
vote against it.
Now, finally, Transportation Chair Bernie Lieder is wrapping up the
debate, sharing his wisdom as one of the true legends in the Minnesota
House. He is also refuting some of the exagerations previously stated
about the funding part of the bill. I've especially enjoyed getting to
know Bernie, and learning at his feet. He's sharp, fair, and
even-keeled.
The bill just passed 83-46.
Thanks for reading this email. Please do let me know if you enjoyed the
format and the discussion. If you'd also prefer shorter email updates
more frequently, please do let me know as well. As always, your
comments, questions, ideas and input are encouraged. Thanks for your
attention. Enjoy the spring weather!
My best,
Jeremy