Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This year, we had an opportunity to make progress for Minnesotans by protecting our elders and vulnerable adults; by investing in safer schools and smaller class sizes; by reducing health care costs; and by passing a decent bonding bill. Minnesotans from every county and all walks of life visited the Capitol and urged lawmakers to lend a helping hand. Instead of listening, Republicans decided to place ideology over improving the lives of Minnesotans.

The pharmaceutical industry killed a bipartisan plan to combat widespread opioid abuse that would have required opioid manufacturers to share in the cost of treatment and public safety. Instead of holding Big Pharma accountable for the opioid crisis in Minnesota, the Republicans proposed to make tax payers shoulder 100% of the costs of the opioid crisis. This must change!

Sadly, the 2018 session began just days after the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Days before the session ended, the fifth-deadliest school shooting occurred. Between these two school shootings, tens of thousands of brave Minnesota students, teachers, and parents visited the Capitol to demand better criminal background checks, red flag laws, and other proposals to stem the bloodshed. Despite robust grassroots

organizing and public opinion polling showing nearly universal support across all demographics, Republicans in the Senate did not hold a single public hearing about gun violence this year.

Unfortunately, too many voices got ignored this year. Too many good ideas died. Too many Minnesotans were let down. It’s time our legislature was held accountable for letting these good opportunities fly by. I’m committed to continuing to make sure that Minnesotans are seen, heard, and responded to. I will continue to fight on behalf of Senate District 59 and all Minnesotans.

Sincerely,

Senator Bobby Joe Champion

 

Senator Bobby Joe Champion 2018 Legislative Update

Supplemental Budget & Tax Bill Veto

Fiscal stability has always been a top priority for me. I have advocated for fiscal policies that avoid the past repeated cycles of structural deficits, which led to underfunding our K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public safety, seniors, people with disabilities, and our veterans.

After years of cuts and under-investment under former Governor Pawlenty, our schools were turning to local property tax increases to minimize the cuts in our classrooms. Democrats worked hard to right the ship. Now our economy is strong, unemployment has reached a 17-year low, and our schools have seen significant support, but there is still much to be done. The progress that we’ve made would have been undermined if Governor Dayton hadn’t vetoed the tax and budget bills this year. Tax cuts and new spending need to be balanced in order to protect Minnesota’s economy from future instability. Unfortunately, the proposals that were on the table here at the end of session didn’t provide that balance.

The budget bill had some good parts to it, but those things didn’t outweigh controversial provisions that would have hurt our state’s fiscal stability. The bill would have cut funding from state agencies and avoided the kinds of necessary investments and forward-looking solutions we need to address the issues that are critically important to Minnesotans right now: it didn’t do nearly enough to make our schools and roads safer or help make our health care accessible and affordable. It certainly didn’t make any inroads in closing the achievement gap and providing more opportunities for Minneapolis residents.

Additionally, the budget bill failed to address our comprehensive transit and transportation. The same is true for the tax bill. Governor Dayton and I shared a commitment to conforming Minnesota’s tax policy with recent federal changes in a way that would not be at the expense of working families, and that would not lead back to structural deficits.

The tax bill we saw on the floor in the Minnesota Senate – which the Governor vetoed once before having basically the same bill sent back again at the close of session – would have put our state right back into deficits. The Senate bill gave tax rate cuts to everyone, but the benefits were skewed to the wealthiest, leaving working families with a nominal benefit.

That kind of inequality is a risky way to budget and doesn’t reflect the priorities of Minnesotans. I am deeply frustrated that political games were played with this important bill, especially with advance knowledge that it would not be signed into law.

Jobs and Economic Development

While Republicans talked about creating jobs and investing in economic development, the largest investment relative in this budget area was $15 million for broadband. Additionally, Republicans did not enact important provisions that would help workers impacted by wage theft. I remain committed to job creation, economic development, and protecting Minnesota’s workforce. When we protect our working neighbors we improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans.

Protest bill

Governor Dayton vetoed a bill relating to public safety that would increase penalties for protesters obstructing traffic access. Penalties included imprisonment up to one year or payment of a fine up to $3,000, or both. This bill would have restricted rights for peaceful protesting and unfairly punish protesters more harshly than people who commit assault or domestic assault. I believe it’s important to protect Minnesotans who are exercising freedom of speech.

Transportation

Governor Dayton vetoed the Republicans’ supplemental budget that included an article for Transportation. The bill fell short of addressing Minnesotans’ transportation and transit needs and used risky funding shifts that endanger the fiscal stability of the very offices that produce vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses. I am committed to providing a dedicated revenue source to meet our transportation and transit needs. A robust transportation and transit system improves lives of all Minnesotans and continues to make our state globally competitive.

Hands free cell did not pass: The bill to prohibit the use of handheld cellular phones while driving stalled during this year’s legislative session, despite strong citizen advocacy for the bill and overwhelming public support for the measure.

Health and Human Services

The 2018 supplemental budget that included an article for health and human services was a failure.

Republicans tried to pass work requirements for some to receive Health Care or benefits. This policy cost more and undermined Medicaid’s role as a safety-net insurance program.

Additionally, Republicans tried to prohibit a MinnesotaCare Buy-in option. This buy in option would have reduced health care cost by creating an opportunity for people to purchase quality health coverage at a competitive price. It is important for us to continue fighting for all Minnesotans to have health care coverage, and I will continue to fight for it.

Education

Governor Dayton vetoed the Republicans’ supplemental budget that included education. It invested only 8.8% of the total $329 million budget surplus for schools. Additionally, the safe schools component was pathetic and would not have made any of our children safer. Education improves our quality of life and we must continue to make that investment for our children.

Bonding

The bonding bill includes $1.43 billion in total appropriations, with $825 million in the form of general obligation bonding. The following projects located in Minneapolis were included in the bonding bill: $15 million for the Upper Harbor Terminal, $10 million for the Family Partnership, $1 million for the Stone Arch Bridge, and $10 million for metro parks, just to name a few.

Common Sense Gun Safety Measures

Thousands of students came to the Capitol this year, pleading for commonsense reforms to reduce gun violence in our schools and communities – measures that are supported by 90% of Minnesotans. Instead, Republican Legislators mocked their efforts and sided with the NRA over the safety of our kids. The Senate did not hold one public hearing on common sense gun safety measures. This is unacceptable as our children deserve to be and feel safe.

Opioids

Last year, 395 Minnesotans lost their lives to opioid abuse. Big pharma – which has created and profited from the opioid crisis – hired three dozen lobbyists to defeat measures asking them to contribute a small portion of their profits to curbing opioid abuse and saving lives. Republican Legislators caved to big pharmaceutical companies, and held them harmless this session by proposing to take money from our general fund. General Fund dollars are primarily spent on education, health care and local government aid and should not be used to hold pharmaceutical companies harmless.

Protecting Seniors

This year, the Legislature had the chance to act upon a strong and bipartisan response to recent complaints of elder abuse. With the clock running out on session, the majority party decided to include a number of watered down provisions in the controversial and ultimately vetoed budget bill. The Elder Abuse Consumer Coalition strongly opposed the weakened in the bill. I will continue to work hard to protect our seniors.

Contact Me

Office: 651.296.9246

sen.bobby.champion@senate.mn

senatedfl.mn/members/senatorbobby-joe-champion/

SenBobbyJoeChampion

@BobbyJChampion

2303 Senate Office Building

Saint Paul, MN 55155