Politics & Government

Local GOP Leader Responds to Projected Deficit Improvement

State Sen. Geoff Michel attributed the $1.2 billion reduction to a lack of local tax increases as well as changes at the federal level.

Hot on the heels of an economic forecast showing Minnesota's projected budget deficit for the upcoming biennium falling to $5 billion, Republican legislators came out to weigh in on what caused the $1.2 billion improvement.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel (R-Edina) said a lack of tax increases at the local level was partially responsible for the slightly less dismal numbers.

"Tax relief plus certainty equals economic growth," Michel said. "That's a really important formula for us to remember. We keep talking about how this session cannot just be about cuts, this session cannot just be about tax increases. We've got to introduce this third idea, this notion of growth."

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Michel attributed the positive financial news locally to changes at the federal level, where he said growth came out of an unlikely combination of a Democratic president and a Republican Congress.

"I hope there's a lesson in there for the Minnesota political scene," he said.

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The senator gave credit to Gov. Mark Dayton for doing away with the temporary income tax surcharge for filers making more than $500,000, joking they were "very temporary."

"It lasted about a week," he said.

Downey Appointed to School Trust Lands Advisory Committee

There might not be any left in his own district, but State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina) said he's excited to be part of the committee overseeing Minnesota's school trust lands.

Two sections of land were set aside for every township in the state to help produce income for districts over time, with the state in charge of using or investing the land to create revenue. Downey said he was interested in getting appointed to the committee in hopes of "turning the program around after some of the lands have suffered through 150 years of neglect."

"We have 2.5 million acres of land in Minnesota that have been underutilized substantially compared to what could be generated," Downey said. "Last year they generated $11 million in income, but only $200,000 went to the school trust fund."

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources oversees the lands, which Downey said is great for the "hunting and timber" regulation, but not necessarily a good idea when it comes to financial concerns.

"They aren't really good at managing land for return-on-investment and income," he said.

Downey is co-author on H.F. 435, which would see the creation of a new entity to manage the existing school trust lands.

"Over 150 years all of this stuff got frittered away, it was sold or transferred," Downey said. "The point is let's get going on managing those now."

Here’s a rundown of other bills authored or co-authored by your legislators this past week:

Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina):

  • Co-authored a bill reducing taxes, providing efficiency permitting and modifying environmental review requirements. HF0600, introduced Feb. 17.
  • Co-authored a bill modifying an exemption to the food, beverage and lodging establishments statutes. HF0637, introduced Feb. 21.
  • Co-authored a bill reducing the limitation period for bringing certain civil actions from four years to two. HF0654, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Co-authored a bill modifying elevator compliance provisions. HF0664, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Co-authored a bill creating an early childhood education scholarship finance system, providing tax credits for training and retaining early education workers and improving quality early childhood education programming. HF0669, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Co-authored a bill requiring public value impact statements for certain legislation. HF0673, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Authored a bill establishing the Minnesota pay for performance pilot program. HF0681, introduced Feb. 24.

Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina): 

  • Authored a bill creating the Sunset Advisory Commission, providing for sunset and review of state agencies. SF0359, introduced Feb. 17.
  • Co-authored a bill stating a right to engage in an occupation and specifying conditions for government regulation of occupations. SF0380, introduced Feb. 21.
  • Authored a bill eliminating the teacher contract deadline and penalty. SF0383, introduced Feb. 21.
  • Authored a bill requiring the commissioner of administration to review the privatization potential of state agency services and to prepare a database of all assets owned by the state. SF0394, introduced Feb. 21.
  • Co-authored a bill modifying and clarifying provisions related to innovative energy projects. SF0417, introduced Feb. 21.
  • Authored a bill reforming medical malpractice liability. SF0432, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Authored a bill directing the state of Minnesota to end participation in the No Child Left Behind Act. SF0433, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Co-authored a bill establishing the Minnesota pay for performance pilot program. SF0434, introduced Feb. 24.

Rep. Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington):

  • Co-authored a bill reducing the limitation period for bringing certain civil actions from four years to two. HF0654, introduced Feb. 24.
  • Co-authored a bill increasing the equalization aid levels for school funding programs. HF0683, introduced Feb. 24.


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