Thissen: All-Cuts Budget Won't Work

The budget battle continued at the capitol last week as House Minority Leader Paul Thissen called for Republican's to submit their "all-cuts" budget proposal.

While Thissen and the minority are anxiously awaiting the Republican budget proposal, Thissen said the all-cuts budget approach won't work.

"It’s the very approach that made our great state perform below average over the last decade. Case and point—between 2002 and 2010, Minnesota ranked 15th from the bottom of states in job growth," he said in a press release. "That is unacceptable."

In addition, with a $5 billion gap to close, the proposal needs to be put on the table so Minnesotans can weigh in on what is best for the state, Thissen said in the release.

"Minnesota’s economic recovery is extremely fragile," Thissen said in the release. "It hangs in the balance of the decisions legislators will make in the coming months."

In other business, here’s what happened this past week with bills authored or co-authored by Southwest Minneapolis' legislative representatives:

State Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Minneapolis)

• Co-authored a bill modifying overtime requirements for certain air carrier employees. SF0488 was introduced on Feb. 28 and referred to the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on the same day.
• Authored a bill modifying the work experience requirements for YouthBuild programs, which held low-income youth. SF0468 was introduced on Feb. 28 and was referred to the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on the same day.

State Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis)

• Hornstein introduced House File 852 on March 3. The bill cleans up the language in the state that allows the Minneapolis City Council and park board to jointly charge a dedication fee on new housing units. The biggest change is that it explictly allows the city to charge a flat rate for each new unit. 

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis)

• Authored a bill that would require spousal contributions to long-term care expenses. HF0766 was introduced on Feb. 28 and was referred the the Health and Human Services Finance Committee the same day. Sen. Scott Dibble carries the bill in the Senate.

State Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis)

• Dibble authored Senate File 647, which sets how Minneapolis Board of Education members are elected. The bill also gives the board the ability to remove a school board members for due cause with a majority vote.
• Dibble is carrying the Senate version of Rep. Frank Hornstein's bill that would eliminate corporate tax loopholes.
• Dibble also introduced Senate File 596 today, which would require helmets for young bike riders.