Politics & Government
District 39 Bonding Bills Languish in 'Holding Pattern'
Legislators await Governor Mark Dayton's budget proposal this week.
At the capitol, many of the bills sponsored by local legislators sit un-reviewed in capitol investment committees that are not meeting on a week-to-week basis.
“We’re kind of in a holding pattern,” said Rep. Rick Hansen (D-District 39A). Those bills request bonding money for infrastructure projects such as improvements to the South St. Paul levy and inflow and infiltration projects that improve stormwater systems.
Republicans, who control both the House and the Senate, have voiced opposition to any bonding bill beyond emergency spending.
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The first major finance bill, HF130, made it out of a conference committee last week, and was voted on in both bodies of the Legislature in a party-line vote. Hansen voted against the measure. Metzen left late Thursday afternoon for travel plans and did not vote, however, he told Patch last week that he’s not in favor of the bill, which was vetoed the next day by Governor Mark Dayton. Dayton will be releasing his own comprehensive budget this week.
Hansen said he does not want to see an across-the-board reduction in spending, but rather the targeted elimination of programs. “I’d rather say ‘there’s some things we can’t do anymore.’”
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In other activity, Hansen has been working on a capitol complex security taskforce, given a tight deadline by the governor to provide recommendations for improving the safety of the visitors, staff and officials, and the buildings themselves at the capitol.
On the House floor, Hansen voted against a Department of Natural Resources lands bill. The lands bill is usually an uncontroversial piece of legislation that allows for transactions of land to occur, but Hansen said this year’s bill includes legislation that allows the DNR to sell land at 75 percent of market value to meet a budget-balancing requirement from 2004-2005. “I think allowing that authority in statute, even for one time, sets a bad precedent.”
Hansen also voted against an alternative teacher licensure bill that made it to the House floor. Hansen has supported alternative teacher licensing in the past, but this particular incarnation, he said, does not provide enough training and competency measures.
Here’s what’s happened this past week with other bills authored or co-authored by your legislators:
Rep. Rick Hansen
Existing legislation:
—A bill providing $1 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. This is the companion bill to SF145. HF277, introduced Jan. 31
—Hansen co-signed a bill adjusting DMV fees. HF347, introduced Feb. 3 by Rep. Larry Howes (R-District 4B)
— A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF74, introduced Jan. 13
—A bill providing $25 million in bonds for conservation easements to be purchased by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, with priority given to flood prone land in southeast Minnesota awaits a hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF109, introduced Jan. 18
—A bill co-sponsored by Hansen to encourage school districts to incorporate mental health education into grades 7-12 curriculum awaits a hearing in the Education Reform committee. HF37, introduced Jan. 10
Sen. Jim Metzen
Existing legislation:
—Metzen co-signed a bill allowing 911 fees to be collected from pre-paid wireless services, which has been referred to the judiciary and public safety committee. SF236, introduced Jan. 7 by Sen. Doug Magnus (R-District 22)
—Metzen co-signed a bill to modify inspection and planning requirements for manufactured homes, which has been referred to the jobs and economic growth committee. SF225, introduced Feb. 3 by Sen. John Pederson (R-District 15)
—A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. This is the companion bill to HF74. SF49 introduced Jan. 18
—A bill co-sponsored by Metzen providing $1 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF145, introduced Jan. 27 by Sen. Katie Sieben (D-District 57)
—A bill co-sponsored by Metzen providing $2 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF221, introduced Jan. 27 by Sen. Katie Sieben (D-District 57)
—A bill co-sponsored by Metzen to update the effective dates of a lead poisoning prevention statute awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Growth committee. SF139, introduced Jan. 27 by Sen. Ted Lillie (R-District 56)
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