State lawmakers recently took a four day Easter holiday to catch their breath after a two month legislative sprint.

Saturday, April 06, 2002

State lawmakers recently took a four day Easter holiday to catch their breath after a two month legislative sprint. As we all return from the break, ready for the final stretch, I’d like to run through our progress so far, and detail the issues we have yet to complete.

Homeland security

One of our most important accomplishments so far was the overwhelming support of an anti-terrorism package that creates new penalties for fatal and chemical/biological acts of terrorism. The bill also increases funding for training and new equipment for first responders, and allows Minnesota drivers the opportunity to purchase new patriotic license plates to help fund anti-terrorism efforts.

I have been appointed to the Homeland Security Conference Committee, which is already meeting and probably stands the best chance of finding common ground in a timely manner.

Transportation

The Senate also passed recently, with little Republican support, a bill that increased the gas tax by six cents, indexed it to inflation (which allows it to automatically rise on an annual basis), and approved a metro referendum regarding a half cent sales tax hike. While I strongly believe we must find new transportation dollars, in a time of recession this package hits taxpayers a bit too hard. As an outstate lawmaker, I also objected to a provision effectively spending two cents of the six cent gas tax increase on metro transit, providing millions more for light rail transit.

The House/Senate Transportation &uot;working group&uot; has begun meeting to build a consensus.

Bonding

At $1.2 billion, the Senate’s bonding bill is by far the most generous. Nearly half of this package is dedicated to higher education projects, while the House’s $839 million bill invests more heavily in transportation and public safety initiatives. The DFL Senate leadership would prefer funding similar highway and crime prevention projects through fee increases and tax hikes. The two bodies are currently meeting to reach a compromise on their respective packages.

Stadium

The Senate recently passed a convoluted bill to construct a Twins Stadium through state financing, local sales taxes, loosely defined &uot;user fees&uot; and a team investment.

For my money, however, the best plan on the table was recently unveiled by a longtime Finance Department employee, Peter Sausen. This creative proposal requires the Twins to make a $165 million gift to the State of Minnesota up front. The state would then approve $330 million in bonds for stadium construction. Over the next thirty years, the state would repay the loan using the Twins’ investment, the interest it garners, and an additional $10 million annual payment from the Twins or the stadium’s host city.

Budget

Earlier this session, we came to a fast-paced, bi-partisan agreement over the nearly $2 billion budget shortfall. Since that time, however, the state has learned of an additional $439 million deficit.

The Senate DFL plan would refill the $439 million with a 60 cents per pack tax increase on cigarettes. The House Republicans favor further cuts to government spending. Negotiations have been delayed by these philosophical differences. However, representatives from the two bodies are meeting and it is impossible to predict when a deal might materialize unexpectedly.

Sen. Grace Schwab (R-Albert Lea) represents Freeborn County and most of Mower County in the Minnesota Senate.