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Dear Minnesotans,
Today marks my one-year anniversary of living in Minnesota. Presumably of greater consequence to MinnPost readers, it also marks the first of three months this year that the Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to be in session.
Judging from my time spent covering the Legislature last year and reading Peter Callaghan’s articles from years before, little will get done until the session’s bitter end when lawmakers stay up late and pass hulking, possibly illegal, bills.
Nonetheless, here are three (quite) unrelated but meaningful developments, at least in my eyes, of the Legislature’s first trimester.
Our state government spends more money than it takes in, but we still have a budget surplus
Unlike the federal government, states must balance their budget. According to a Minnesota Management and Budget report released in February, the state plans to spend $70 billion and take in $67 billion in revenues this fiscal year (The fiscal year started July 1.)
Related: Walz’s last budget proposal calls for studies, councils and blue ribbon commissions
However, Minnesota still has a budget balance of a positive $10 billion. That balance means the state is set to have a surplus through fiscal year 2029 if the Legislature offsets new spending with revenue increases.
Minnesota has problems, like social services fraud and the fallout from federal immigration enforcement actions.
But as to whether Minnesota has a functioning government, the state is pretty good. A report by the nonprofit Truth in Accounting last fall found that 25 states do not have enough money to pay their bills. Minnesota was not one of them, and we ranked 11th among states in the ability to meet financial obligations.
The governor wants a bonding bill, the Legislature is not ready for commitment
This may be even less clickbaity than talking about state finances, but the most impactful thing the Legislature realistically could do this session is take out a massive loan to fund a variety of infrastructure projects.
Last month, Walz said that a bonding bill is his “top priority,” but lawmakers have done more to draw attention to different issues, including fraud as well as tax and spending measures to make the state more affordable.
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My colleague Brian Arola has covered the waterfront on a potential bonding bill, including a breakdown of specific proposals.
Walz has maintained (including in the supplemental budget he presented Tuesday) that he wants around $900 million toward projects such as new fire stations, or removing harmful chemicals from waterways.
But Legislative leaders have yet to present an overall spending target, nor gotten too far into the process of vetting specific ideas.
Eldercare residents can booze away together
As a forthcoming story of mine looks at, there is a lot happening at nursing homes and assisted living facilities right now, including another effort by Walz to cut long-term care costs.
So, I may as well commemorate a less fraught bill that cleared a House committee this week enabling eldercare homes to serve alcohol to residents and guests during organized events, like, say, a happy hour. The facility must report such an activity to the state.
The Long-Term Care Imperative, a group that lobbies for nursing homes, praised the move, trumpeting in a press release that it is “fighting to ensure seniors enjoy happy hour in their homes.”
If you have questions about how to set up a liquor-filled event at your nursing home, or other inquiries, please email me at mblake@minnpost.com.
Sincerely,
Matthew Blake
