This week the Governor's tax plan was rolled out. As we might have predicted, it was met with support from DFLers and opposition from the GOP. Of particular concern among GOP legislators is a proposed reinstatement of the Provider Tax which was set to expire. Dayton is also renewing his call to undo some of the provisions related to tobacco from last year's tax bill. 

Also released this week was a tax increase study which showed that the Governor's tax plan would result in higher taxes for many Minnesotans, as result of extending the Provider Tax.  

GOP legislators are unlikely to support either of these issues in their bills, which will be rolled out soon.

Tax battle Heats up

Transportation has bipartisan support for more funding but they differ widely on where that funding should come from. As both transportation finance packages moved through the process many DFLers were concerned for the lack of transit funding in the bills. Both the House and Senate are relying on bonding to fix many of the roads and bridge projects.  

The big fight in the transportation funding debate will come next week when they will likely discuss a proposed constitutional amendment to dedicate the sales tax from some auto-related sales to a fund for roads and bridges. Supporters say the funding is needed and long overdue. Many are opposed though, saying it removes money that had been going to the general fund and prohibits it from being used for other critical needs, such as schools or health care. 

Transportation Bill

The House took a unique strategy in their supplemental appropriations bill, which was already expected to be opposed by Governor Dayton when they announced a cut- target of $7 million for state. In addition to that, the House also wants to use $26 million that was supposed to be used to pay off bonds from the Vikings stadium and redirect those founds to support three veterans homes in greater Minnesota. While the Governor supports the new veterans homes, his administration does not think this is the best manner to fund them.

At the beginning of session there were bipartisan calls for legislation to address the growing issue of opioid addiction. One of the key pieces of the legislation introduced by the Governor and legislators was a small tax on opioid prescriptions, to fund the  programs needed for fixing this epidemic. That tax is finding opposition and potentially puts some of these new efforts to fight this problem in jeopardy.

Opioid Issue Meets Resistance

Bipartisan concerns raised about amendment to opioid crisis bill

Rep. Paul Thissen was appointed to the State Supreme Court this week, by Governor Dayton. This court seat opened up when Judge David Stras was recently appointed to a Federal Judgeship. This was Dayton's 6th supreme court appointment; he has now appointed 5 of the 7  current  justices . It also puts an end to the legislative career of Rep. Thissen, who served as Speaker of the House (13-14) and ran twice for governor. 

Thissen's Retirement Speech

Last day of session - May 21, 2018

Bills must be out of all policy committees in ONE of the two bodies by 1st deadline.

Bills must be out of all policy committees in BOTH bodies by the 2nd deadline.

Bills must be passed out of finance divisions in both bodies by 3rd deadline.

*The deadlines do not apply to the House committees on Capital Investment, Ways and Means, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Legislative Administration, nor to the Senate committees on Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Administration. Any bill that is in one of these committees - in both bodies - after 3rd deadline is then "still alive". 

It should be noted that a bill is never really dead until final adjournment. Any bill failing to meet deadlines can always be revived by the rules committee.