Another day, another floor session. This time it's Tuesday evening, and the bill is the Capital Investment bill. Generally, the odd-numbered year's bonding bill is a bit slimmer than the even-numbered year's. This is again the case this year.
But there is good news for Chisago County. $500,000 will be bonded for the Rush Line commuter transit corridor infrastructure along highway 35 and highway 61.
The debate is just beginning, but I will be sure to add an update or two or three before the night is done.
UPDATE: Only four amendments, all of which were voted down with a wide majority. We're now on third reading.
UPDATE II: The bill passed 84-45, after a fairly brief discussion. Perhaps we're on the path to somewhat quicker sessions...?
Regardless, the next step of investment in the Rush Line is one evening closer to reality.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
the Transportation Bill on the House Floor
We are on the House Floor today in an unusual Saturday session. We are taking up the Transportation Finance bill, one that I've worked very hard on this session as a member of the Transportation Committee. I am unfortunately missing one of my favorite events of the year - the Friends of Wild River State Park annual maple syrup and pancake breakfast (with freshly-boiled syrup!). But this Transportation Bill will help meet an incredible need facing the people I represent: traffic congestion and unsafe roads.
The bill is also a Jobs bill. My friend, Congressman (and Chair) Jim Oberstar often cites this statistic: 1 lane mile of new road brings 55 new jobs.
I spoke frankly with my MnDOT Area Manager last week. I asked him whether the state can fund the North Branch Bridge at highway 95 without more funding. His straightforward answer was - not before 2009, certainly. Without this bill, North Branch would have to levy $4.2 Million in property tax bonding to build the bridge.
For a long time, the DFL House Caucus has listed its top priorities as "Education, Health Care and Property Tax reform." I've long thought that one critical issue has been missing, and spoke several times directly with the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader as well. I am satisfied that we're taking the Transportation Finance Bill before all others, because the need is so great across the state.
One last specific note before I share with you a little bit of what's happening on the floor. The 2005 Transportation Bill would have provided $17 million in state funding just to our Chisago County county-state-aid roads. Because the bill did not become law - and because we then had the worst county roads in a MnDOT study - the county was forced to bond $14 Million in property taxes to make up for the lost revenue.
- - - -
We're now about 30 minutes into the floor action on the bill. Representative Holberg offered an amendment that would violate our balanced budget principles over the next two years - the budget "tails" as they are called around here. I voted no.
As Vice-Chair of Public Safety, I've worked closely with the Republican Lead, Rep. Paul Kohls. I'd now call him a friend. His amendment to strip out the major funding of the bill just failed - and I voted no on this one as well.
Many of these amendments were discussed through the three-month committee process this year. We worked diligently in a bi-partisan manner to write the bill, which passed with only 3 nay votes in Committee.
- - - -
Rep. Sviggum is offering an amendment that would micromanage the transit system. My professional training is, of course, in architecture and planning. I know that we need to trust professionals to design a system that works well - and that we need to fund the system to reach the critical mass so that transit is available to areas where there is real need and desire for it - like Chisago County. My largest city is 29.5 miles away from the closest connection to the metro transit system, though we are part of the metro MnDOT district and pay for the roads the busses ride along. I will vote no on the Sviggum amendment.
Rep. Garofalo just offered an amendment to prohibit toll roads in Minnesota. While I generally agree with the principle, there are a few worthy areas where a toll road may make sense. The proposed major freeway-style bridge in Stillwater would cost $494 Million - primarily to move Wisconsin residents to their Minnesota jobs. This immense project will benefit Wisconsiners mostly, and a toll charge will help the users actually pay for the bridge project. I voted no on the Garofalo amendment for this reason.
- - - -
After I spoke urging a "green" vote, the Republican lead on our committee, Doug Magnus, spoke about the bill as well. He pointed out that there are a lot of good elements in the bill, even though he'll vote against it.
Now, finally, Transportation Chair Bernie Lieder is wrapping up the debate, sharing his wisdom as one of the true legends in the Minnesota House. He is also refuting some of the exagerations previously stated about the funding part of the bill. I've especially enjoyed getting to know Bernie, and learning at his feet. He's sharp, fair, and even-keeled.
The bill just passed 83-46.
Thanks for reading this post. Please do let me know if you enjoyed the format and the discussion. If you'd also prefer shorter updates more frequently, please do let me know as well. As always, your comments, questions, ideas and input are encouraged. Thanks for your attention. Enjoy the spring weather!
The bill is also a Jobs bill. My friend, Congressman (and Chair) Jim Oberstar often cites this statistic: 1 lane mile of new road brings 55 new jobs.
I spoke frankly with my MnDOT Area Manager last week. I asked him whether the state can fund the North Branch Bridge at highway 95 without more funding. His straightforward answer was - not before 2009, certainly. Without this bill, North Branch would have to levy $4.2 Million in property tax bonding to build the bridge.
For a long time, the DFL House Caucus has listed its top priorities as "Education, Health Care and Property Tax reform." I've long thought that one critical issue has been missing, and spoke several times directly with the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader as well. I am satisfied that we're taking the Transportation Finance Bill before all others, because the need is so great across the state.
One last specific note before I share with you a little bit of what's happening on the floor. The 2005 Transportation Bill would have provided $17 million in state funding just to our Chisago County county-state-aid roads. Because the bill did not become law - and because we then had the worst county roads in a MnDOT study - the county was forced to bond $14 Million in property taxes to make up for the lost revenue.
- - - -
We're now about 30 minutes into the floor action on the bill. Representative Holberg offered an amendment that would violate our balanced budget principles over the next two years - the budget "tails" as they are called around here. I voted no.
As Vice-Chair of Public Safety, I've worked closely with the Republican Lead, Rep. Paul Kohls. I'd now call him a friend. His amendment to strip out the major funding of the bill just failed - and I voted no on this one as well.
Many of these amendments were discussed through the three-month committee process this year. We worked diligently in a bi-partisan manner to write the bill, which passed with only 3 nay votes in Committee.
- - - -
Rep. Sviggum is offering an amendment that would micromanage the transit system. My professional training is, of course, in architecture and planning. I know that we need to trust professionals to design a system that works well - and that we need to fund the system to reach the critical mass so that transit is available to areas where there is real need and desire for it - like Chisago County. My largest city is 29.5 miles away from the closest connection to the metro transit system, though we are part of the metro MnDOT district and pay for the roads the busses ride along. I will vote no on the Sviggum amendment.
Rep. Garofalo just offered an amendment to prohibit toll roads in Minnesota. While I generally agree with the principle, there are a few worthy areas where a toll road may make sense. The proposed major freeway-style bridge in Stillwater would cost $494 Million - primarily to move Wisconsin residents to their Minnesota jobs. This immense project will benefit Wisconsiners mostly, and a toll charge will help the users actually pay for the bridge project. I voted no on the Garofalo amendment for this reason.
- - - -
After I spoke urging a "green" vote, the Republican lead on our committee, Doug Magnus, spoke about the bill as well. He pointed out that there are a lot of good elements in the bill, even though he'll vote against it.
Now, finally, Transportation Chair Bernie Lieder is wrapping up the debate, sharing his wisdom as one of the true legends in the Minnesota House. He is also refuting some of the exagerations previously stated about the funding part of the bill. I've especially enjoyed getting to know Bernie, and learning at his feet. He's sharp, fair, and even-keeled.
The bill just passed 83-46.
Thanks for reading this post. Please do let me know if you enjoyed the format and the discussion. If you'd also prefer shorter updates more frequently, please do let me know as well. As always, your comments, questions, ideas and input are encouraged. Thanks for your attention. Enjoy the spring weather!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Picking up the pace
The House policy committee deadline is next Friday, March 23. As a result, committees are pressing hard to advance the most critical bills before next Friday.
The House Rules have set the most aggressive committee deadlines in memory, to get our work done on time, and to bring the most important issues to the fore earlier, rather than waiting until the last week of session.
The consequence is multiple committees at the same time, on all floors of the State Office Building. For instance, tonight I had a Transportation Committee hearing in room 10, a Public Safety Committee meeting in room 400S (I think!), a significant Property Tax bill in the Basement hearing room, and I still hoped to make it to my Township Annual meeting and a planned reception near the Capitol, too.
I will present no fewer than 7 bills over the next 5 days, with at least 3 or 4 more bills a possibility (depending on whether the substance is included in other bills.) I am also essentially "second author" on two other bills.
In addition, I am still working hard to keep up with the literally hundreds of daily emails and phone calls from constituents.
All of this to say.... I love this job.
The House Rules have set the most aggressive committee deadlines in memory, to get our work done on time, and to bring the most important issues to the fore earlier, rather than waiting until the last week of session.
The consequence is multiple committees at the same time, on all floors of the State Office Building. For instance, tonight I had a Transportation Committee hearing in room 10, a Public Safety Committee meeting in room 400S (I think!), a significant Property Tax bill in the Basement hearing room, and I still hoped to make it to my Township Annual meeting and a planned reception near the Capitol, too.
I will present no fewer than 7 bills over the next 5 days, with at least 3 or 4 more bills a possibility (depending on whether the substance is included in other bills.) I am also essentially "second author" on two other bills.
In addition, I am still working hard to keep up with the literally hundreds of daily emails and phone calls from constituents.
All of this to say.... I love this job.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Nice Profile in ECM Papers
ECM Publishers reporter Tim Budig stopped by my Capitol office last week. One never knows how the final piece might turn out, but Mr. Budig did a pretty good job capturing my general approach to serving Chisago County in the State House. Catch it here.
The Energy Bill he references, House File 1221, was initially presented today in the Energy Finance Committee, and will be voted on in committee on Wednesday. When fully implemented by 2025, we will save over 24% of the state's electricity, making the Renewable Energy Standard we passed last week easier and less expensive to achieve.
The cost savings may be immense. The cost of adding new power to the system is about 8 cents a kilowatt hour. The cost of saving energy is about 1.5 cents a kilowatt hour. More later...
The Energy Bill he references, House File 1221, was initially presented today in the Energy Finance Committee, and will be voted on in committee on Wednesday. When fully implemented by 2025, we will save over 24% of the state's electricity, making the Renewable Energy Standard we passed last week easier and less expensive to achieve.
The cost savings may be immense. The cost of adding new power to the system is about 8 cents a kilowatt hour. The cost of saving energy is about 1.5 cents a kilowatt hour. More later...
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