Hi everybody,

The 2007 Legislative Session has ended.  All of the budget bills have been approved, but not without a good share of controversy.

Almost all of the major budget bills were left until the final day.  In the final three hours of session, House Democrats chose to vote on three major budget provisions - a 500 page health and human services bill, a cumbersome taxes proposal, and an override of a previously vetoed transportation bill - with little or no debate.  Longtime Capitol observers called the move unprecedented, as the majority party used a little known political procedure that basically gags the minority party in order to impose their will. 

It was quite a sight.  House Republicans would ask to speak and were either refused, ignored, criticized, or ruled out of order.  The situation was really quite sad, as we too wanted to finish our work on time and wanted no part of a special session.  In short, the final hours were chaotic, and the parliamentary move repeatedly displayed in the final hours by the Democrats not only lacked professional courtesy but was a complete abuse of their power.  We must remember as legislators we are statesmen and stateswomen, and we were doing bills that affect five million Minnesotans.

So what was ultimately approved?  The bill that gathered the longest debate was the Omnibus K-12 Finance bill.  Ultimately I voted against this proposal because it increases the revenue disparity between rural and inner city schools, and it barely provides increases for the K-12 funding formula.

Under this plan, Minneapolis schools will receive $13,697 per pupil in 2009.  In that same year, Owatonna will receive $8,553 per pupil and Waseca will receive $8,857.  Are our kids truly worth $5000 less than students in Minneapolis?  Hardly.  This bill should have narrowed the disparity gap and instead it greatly increased it, making it quite difficult to support.  Combine that with an overall two percent funding increase in 2008 and one percent in 2009, and this was an easy no vote.

We could have and should have done better.

I supported the health and human services bill because it contained the Waseca nursing home operating costs rate adjustment.  This allows the Waseca facility to add a respiratory unit, and as a result raises its reimbursement rates in order to help attract and pay for respiratory care. 

I was disappointed that despite nearly a 20 percent funding increase in the health area, nursing homes will only receive a two percent raise over the next two years.  With a $2.2 billion surplus, we could have made our long-term care facilities more of a priority.

I also voted against the taxes bill as it contains tax increases that will devastate many small business owners, and because it does not contain enough tax relief for rural Minnesota.  I supported the higher education plan because it increases funding by 14 percent, adds $12 billion to the Minnesota GI Bill, and raises funding for the U of M and MnSCU system.

It's worth noting that Democratic leadership did not reach an agreement with Governor Pawlenty on these bills before approving them.

Will the Governor sign these bills, veto them outright, or line-item various spending items out of each?  Stay tuned!

Next week, I'll discuss the various transportation proposals that

were debated on the House floor in the final days.   

Talk to you soon!

Connie