Capitol Review: Battles Over the Budget and Voter Photo IDs

The Legislature is currently on break for the Easter/Passover holiday but a lot work is waiting for state lawmakers upon their return.

With the state’s looming $5 billion budget deficit, legislators are under the gun to achieve a balanced budget before the end of the session.

While the House and Senate have both approved nine spending budgets and one tax bill, the differences between most of the House and Senate versions of these measures still need to be hammered out in conference committees. So far Governor Dayton has signed only one omnibus bill, the Agriculture Omnibus, into law.

Beyond conference committees, the Republican majority and state agencies also are not on the same page about many of the budget proposals and reforms contained in the omnibus bills.

All this disagreement has many legislators wondering if it will be possible to tackle the state’s budget without bipartisan cooperation.

“It will be difficult for the Governor to engage in meaningful discussion without bipartisan support or involvement in the conference committee process,” said Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka). “I remain concerned about the ideologically-based, inflexible commitment to no new taxes that results in more shifting, borrowing, over-promising and hurtful cutting.”

To read more of Sen. Bonoff's Capitol Update, click here. 

*****

A bill that would require people to provide a photo ID before voting is making its way through the legislature, but a few legislators have been making their opposition very clear.

The House version of the bill, authored by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-District 16B), cleared a key committee on Thursday and appears to be getting closer to a floor vote. A Senate version has been gaining traction as well.

Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 44B), who represents St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, said in a recent interview with the UpTake that he thinks the bill is an unnecessary expenditure that would hurt the democratic process.

"(Republicans) are making it more difficult for certain groups of people to vote," Winkler said.

Kiffmeyer said the idea behind the bill is to simply ensure that Minnesota elections are conducted fairly.

“In the end, photo IDs strengthen the integrity of an election and there is a sizable majority of Minnesotans who support it,” she said.

Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-44A) said he thought the bill would restrict some eligible voters—such as the disabled, those in the military serving overseas and college students living away from home—from voting. He also said the bill would be an unnecessary expense during a time when the state's budget is hurting.

“If I had a bumper sticker slogan for this it would be ‘tiny problem, huge price tag’ at a time when we are struggling financially," Simon said.

With Republicans in control at the legislature, the bill likely will have enough support despite concerns from DFLers like Winkler and Simon. Minnesota Public Radio reported that Gov. Mark Dayton has not said whether he would veto a voter photo ID bill if one got to his desk, but a veto might not resolve the issue—Kiffmeyer has said she will put the issue to the voters in the form of a constitutional amendment if Dayton vetoes

****

Also of note last week, a Senate bill was approved that repeals the state’s prohibition on the importation of new coal-based energy. Sen. Bonoff voted in favor of the measure, “because tying our hands arbitrarily drives up the costs of energy for our out-state neighbors.”  This legislation will allow utilities to import electricity from coal plants outside of Minnesota. 

St. Louis Park Patch Editor Mike Rose contributed to this report.