Having trouble viewing this email?  [ [link removed] ]View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].






MR




*April 2, 2024*

Legislative Update

2

*Bond**ing** Bill Hearing for Wright Tech*

The Wright Technical Center (WTC) located in Buffalo, was established in 1972 and is the last surviving Vocational Cooperative School District in Minnesota. WTC serves the eight surrounding districts of Annandale, Big Lake, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, Delano, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Maple Lake, St. Michael-Albertville, and Monticello

It offers advanced career and technical programs and serves as an alternative learning center. Some of these programs include automotive technology, construction, horticulture, welding, cosmetology, early childhood and elementary careers, graphic communications, health science, law enforcement and EMR, on-the-job training, entrepreneurship and youth apprenticeship. With over 30,000 students trained in its 50-year history, WTC is critical to address the shortage of skilled labor. However, the facility is in urgent need of maintenance and repairs, including roof replacement, HVAC and electrical upgrades, and security system additions. The proposed $9.5 million bonding request will address these urgent needs, ensuring the safety and functionality of the facility.

The request has earned the support of various organizations such as Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services Inc., Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association, the American Federation of Teachers Local 3780, the City of Clearwater Economic Development Authority, Wright County Community Action, Wright County Economic Development Partnership, Monticello Public Schools, Delano Public Schools, St. Michael-Albertville Schools, Howard Lake-Wavery-Winsted Public Schools, the City of Maple Lake, the City of Monticello, the City of Montrose, the City of Waverly, the City of Otsego,  and the City of Buffalo. Further, WTC is also supported by the Maple Lake, Monticello, and I-94 West Chambers of Commerce. This highlights the importance of WTC's role in the community.



1

HF 2069 [ [link removed] ] includes funding for WTC to accomplish these goals and continue providing a high-quality hands-on education to students in Buffalo and the surrounding eight school districts. Last Monday, I presented HF 2069 alongside Superintendent, Brian Koslofsky (pictured left), to the House Education Finance Committee [ [link removed] ]. While bonding requests typically go through Capital Investment [ [link removed] ], the Education Committee had an informational hearing on the bill and will be making its recommendations to the Capital Investment Committee.  The committee members showed a great deal of interest in WTC and the bill. My sincere hope is that it is included in this year's bonding bill.



*Energy Update*

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, we heard a couple of bills in the House Climate and Energy Committee [ [link removed] ]. The first makes changes to the state’s C-PACE program, while the other funds an aneroanaerobic digestor to convert food waste into renewable energy.

Since its implementation in 2010, the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (C-PACE) has lent approximately $326 million to 533 projects across the state. The program provides private financing for building projects that improve a building's use of renewable energy with the hope of ultimately reducing energy bills. Minnesota along with 31 other states run a similar program. However, Minnesota is the only state with restrictions on financing. In our case, a C-PACE project can have a maximum financing term of 20 years and a maximum loan amount of 20% of the property’s assessed value. HF 3946 [ [link removed] ] changes each of those to 30 years and 30% as well as allows for the financing of energy projects that include fuel switching and no longer requires an energy project to lower net energy consumption if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. What’s concerning, however, is that the bill also removes the requirement that projects be cost-effective, ultimately removing the need for responsible investing. This bill is guaranteed to do two things: cost more money and irresponsibly spend money on projects that are not cost-effective. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.

The other bill, heard last Wednesday, was HF 4938 [ [link removed] ]. This bill provides a yet-to-be-determined amount from the state’s Renewable Development Account (collected from every Xcel Energy customer as an extra tax) to help fund a Ramsey and Washington County plan to use food waste to create renewable natural gas (RNG). This is done with an anaerobic digestor, which works similarly to a human stomach, processing food to create methane or RNG. This project is expensive, with a $100 million price tag, especially considering that anyone with even a tiny yard can compost their own food scraps for free. The cost only includes the anaerobic digesting facility, not the entire infrastructure necessary to sort the food waste out from regular garbage using robotic arms to pick up the green compostable bag. Furthermore, this only reduces the food waste thrown into the garbage *_if_* residents take the *_extra_* steps to put it into a compostable bag instead of the garbage. Currently, ⅓ of all garbage is food waste.  This bill was also laid over to be included in a larger bill.

*Response to SOS*

The Governor delivered his 2024 State of the State address last week, presenting an optimistic vision for One Minnesota. He highlighted several achievements, such as advancements in education and tax reductions for seniors, along with investments in public safety. However, I sincerely question the actual "success" of these accomplishments.

In spite of an impressive surplus of nearly $19 billion, our taxes were increased by $10 billion over the next 4 years, and government spending ballooned 40%. The surplus was recklessly spent, and the promise to provide $2000 rebates to Minnesotans was broken. Instead, we were offered a meager rebate of $260 each, which was then taxed.

Urgent issues like skyrocketing costs of gas, groceries & energy, and rising crime rates, are plaguing Minnesotans. Businesses are leaving because of high taxes, and burdensome mandates and regulations. Minnesotans deserve a balanced approach, one that's good for both families and businesses. Restoring a balanced state government is imperative.






Please Contact Me

As always, if you need assistance on an issue pertaining to state government or have concerns or ideas about legislation, my office is available to you. You can e-mail at [email protected] or call my office at 651-296-5063 [ tel:6512965063 ]. You can also write a letter to me. My office address at the Capitol is 201 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155.

MR












201 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.5063







________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Minnesota House GOP [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota House GOP · 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]