Posted: 6/12/07
Rep. Tschumper comments on 2007 legislative session
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
"I have mixed feelings on the legislative session. There was a lot of anticipation that we would do some big things for the state when I arrived in St. Paul. The people of this state voted for change last fall. I felt there was a real bi-partisan feeling during the session, and it seemed as if both parties were working together to make some much-needed changes," said first term state Representative Ken Tschumper (DFL-La Crescent) commenting on the recently-completed legislative session. "But things really changed when Gov. Pawlenty starting vetoing just about everything. I didnít think the Governor would be that uncompromising.
"The Governor vetoed seven omnibus bills, including the tax and transportation bills. I felt we really worked hard to meet the Governor in the middle on the transportation bill. We wanted a 10 cents per gallon increase in the gas tax. He wanted to bond for new roads. So we cut the proposed gas tax increase to five cents and included $1.5 billion in bonding. He vetoed that. He insisted there wouldnít be a gas tax increase and would compromise. We tried to override his veto, but couldnít get enough votes. So we had to settle for a ëlights on onlyí bill with no new money for roads or mass transit - just enough money to get by. In the end, we voted four different times on the transportation bill, but didnít make any progress."
The state took a double hit by not passing the transportation bill with an increased gas tax and sales tax for the Metro area for mass transit, according to Tschumper. The federal government provides matching funds for state transportation programs. So additional money raised by the proposed increases would have been doubled.
"I donít think a lot of people are aware of how much we lost when the Governor vetoed the transportation bill because of his ëno new taxesí stance."
Tschumper said the tax bill was much like the transportation bill. The Governor warned he would veto any bill if it included forecasting future budgets utilizing an inflation factor. All but two states use an inflation factor, and Minnesota did until 2001 when the Governor, who was then the majority leader in the state Legislature, rallied enough support to do away with it.
"Once again the Governor vetoed a bill that would have been beneficial for the state because of one issue," Tschumper noted. "The tax bill would have gotten rid of the loopholes that allow major corporations to transfer their accounts to foreign countries and get out of paying state taxes. We also included legislation that would have increased the income tax rate by half a percent for persons in the top five percent of the income scale."
Government analysis indicated those two provisions in the tax bill would have generated between $1.25 and $1.5 billion in additional revenue for the state annually.
By vetoing the tax bill, local Government Aid (LGA) to cities, townships, and counties was frozen at the same rates before the 2003 budget crisis. Caledonia would have received an additional $85,000 in LGA this coming year.
On the positive side
Tschumper was pleased with the education bill, which puts another $800 million in K-12 education. Schools will receive an additional $100 in state aid per pupil unit this year and $50 more in 2008. Special education also received a boost, as a $300 million increase was allocated to those programs.
Renewable energy was another area that received additional funding. The state approved additional spending on switchgrass and biofuels research, and promoting more E-85 and biodiesel filling stations.
The Health Department received $200,000 to study the effects of Atrazine on groundwater, and the health risks to persons drinking Atrazine-tainted water.
"This is a big issue and I got the attention of some major corporations when I pushed for this. There hasnít been a change in the limits of what are allowable levels since 1992. Our technology is better now. New studies have been made. The League of Minnesota Cities is against it, and so are the large corporations producing Atrzine. But this is a serious problem. Atrazine was banned in Europe five years ago. Currently, weíre applying 77 million pounds of Atrazine each year. Weíre just scratching the surface on this issue."
Tschumper said his first session was enjoyable and a learning experience. Because there were so many new faces in the State House this year (29 Democrats and six Republicans), he was able to get the committee assignments he wanted and was able to author or co-author a number of important bills.
"The smoking bill was another positive coming out of the session," he added. "I co-authored that bill, and this is one area I am pleased the Governor and I agreed on."
A special session?
When asked about the possibility of a special session to address the tax and transportation bills, Tschumper said he didnít think one would be called.
"The Governor took a real risk in vetoing the tax and transportation bills because of the gas tax and inflation factor. I think he felt he could call a special session and re-work those bills. But I donít think we will have a special session. Everyone will have to be accountable for their actions. We brought bi-partisan legislation to the Governor, went back and made changes to compromise, and had those bills vetoed.
"Six months ago, I thought Gov. Pawlenty was a fairly moderate person. But I donít any more. He has gotten very extreme, and I donít feel thatís good for this state."
Caledonia Argus
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