Rep. Slocum Looks Forward to 2012 Legislative Session

Editor's Note: The following is Rep. Linda Slocum's (D-Richfield) most recent news column.

Last year, Minnesota was facing a $5 billion deficit. The Republican majority in the Minnesota Legislature proposed closing this deficit solely through cuts that would have devastated the middle class, kicked 144,000 Minnesotans off their health care, cut nearly 30,000 jobs while stifling any further job creation.

Gov Mark Dayton and DFLers in the legislature proposed a fair and balanced approach that made difficult cuts while protecting middle class families and promoting tax fairness. Republicans refused to even temporarily ask millionaires to pay the same taxes as middle-class families and shut state government down.

In an act of true statesmanship, Gov. Dayton put Minnesota first and ended the destructive state government shutdown. Thousands of Minnesotans were hurting, and ending the shutdown was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, the Republican budget sets our state back dramatically. Rather than tax fairness, they decided to shift $780 million more from our schools, stealing from our kids. We’re stealing over $3 billion in total from our schools—with no way to pay it back.

Their budget also issues $640 million in tobacco bonds—the height of fiscal irresponsibility. Minnesota will pay $1.2 billion in debt service over the next 20 years to pay off this payday loan. It’s like paying your Visa with your MasterCard.

In addition, Republicans also eliminated the —which reduced property taxes by as much as $304 a year for homes valued below $414,000. The burden then falls on local governments, and of course, property taxpayers. The final budget also made a significant cut to the Renters’ Credit, hurting nearly 300,000 renters in Minnesota, of which 82,000 are seniors or disabled.

I fought and voted against each of these misguided Republican proposals.

In a rare positive note from last session, the shutdown agreement included a bonding bill. I worked with Rep. Ann Lenczewski to successfully include funding to enhance the Bloomington Lindau Lane Corridor and to provide a crossing and trail connection at the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge. Improving the Lindau Lane Corridor will create jobs, increase the value of nearby property and improve public safety, while the new crossing at the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge is a less expensive alternative to allow folks to walk and bike across.

I’m looking forward to a productive 2012 legislative session. If the November forecast—showing an $876 million surplus—holds up through February, we won’t have to engage in emergency budgeting again, and can focus on meaningful reforms to tackle some of the challenges facing our great state.

In addition to continuing to work on smart, meaningful reforms aimed at helping middle-class Minnesotans, I’m introducing a bill that would limit non-profit CEO compensation to 5 times the average worker’s salary, or increase taxes should the compensation be greater than 5 times the average worker’s salary. I’m also introducing a bill prohibiting auto insurance companies from using credit scores to determine rates for senior citizens. It’s hard to have much of a credit score when your house is paid off and you don’t use credit cards—a situation many of our seniors are in.

Traditionally, a primary focus of each even-year legislative session is prioritizing capital improvement projects. I’ll continue advocating for area projects that will improve roads, bridges, college campuses and public safety. Overall, my priority will continue to be working to build a prosperous Minnesota where all of us have the opportunity to succeed—not just the wealthy few. We will be a stronger Minnesota when we confront our challenges head on, invest in a world-class education system, and put the interest of middle-class Minnesotans first.

As I prepare for the upcoming session, I welcome input on these or any other legislative issues. Thank you again for the honor of serving you in the legislature.