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west




Dear Neighbor,

The House is now a 67-67 party split after the special election in Roseville/Shoreview. 

That means every bill will require agreement from both parties to advance. I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner, because that's how you get things passed into law. This session, it is more important than ever.

Our biggest responsibility this session remains to pass a new two-year state budget. Our projected budget deficit has expanded to $6 billion. After a session of historically irresponsible budgeting, state spending growth is expected to outpace revenue growth dramatically through 2029. We must reduce spending. Thankfully, our state is required to have a balanced budget unlike the federal government.

Committees are now awaiting budget “targets,” which refer to the amount of money legislative leaders set for each area of the state budget. This includes the committee which I chair, Children and Families Finance and Policy, where we currently spend around $9 billion of the $70-plus billion budget.

Once budget targets are issued by House leaders, each committee must work within its assigned target when drafting finance bills. Again, this will require bipartisanship every step of the way since a bill can even leave a committee or be amended without bipartisan support. We can disagree all day long but, in the end, we need to work together and find common ground so we can adjourn on time May 19 with a new state budget approved.

There is a pretty good vibe in the committee I chair. We may disagree about how to get there, but everyone wants less expensive, accessible childcare. We focus on substantive policy rather than partisan mudslinging. 

Meanwhile, I will continue working to carry through the process bills I have personally authored. I am proud of the progress I have made so far. I have had 11 bill hearings in the last month alone. That is more hearings than I participated in during the last six years combined as a member of the former minority. As a committee chair, I have made a point of providing hearings for Democrat bills instead of shutting them out of the process as they did to me. I have never understood the logic of, they did something bad, so we should too. That just brings everyone lower.

Here is a snapshot of the 11 bills of mine to recently receive a hearing:

west

I will continue working to develop bipartisan support for these bills as they make their way through the process so we can get as many as possible to the House floor for votes on approval. Watch for more as developments occur.

Until next time, have a good weekend and please stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Nolan






west

 





State Rep. Nolan West
2nd Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55155
[email protected]       (651) 296-4226







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