Rep. MaRion GReene Rep. FRank HoRnstein sen.

scott Dibble
Dear Friends,
Thank you for giving us the honor of representing you in the Minnesota Legislature. The recently concluded biennial session was marked by gridlock. The Republican legislative majorities did not balance the budget in a fiscally responsible manner. Unfortunately, the legacy of the 2011-2012 session will be passage of a large public subsidy for a new Vikings stadium, promotion of constitutional amendments to restrict the freedom to marry for the LGBT community, and an effort to suppress voting rights through a restrictive photo ID requirement. These ballot questions will be decided in the general election on November 6. One positive accomplishment of the session was a reform to Minneapolis police and fire pension funds which will curb steep increases in city property taxes. With the support of Governor Dayton, we were able to turn back efforts to curtail a womans right to reproductive self-determination, restrict collective bargaining, attack public school teachers, and increase Metro Transit bus and train fares. The Capital Bonding bill included support for affordable housing, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and a rail transit hub in downtown Minneapolis. We appreciate the active involvement in state legislative issues of so many of you. Please continue to write, call or visit us with your legislative and community concerns.

2012 LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Rep. Frank Hornstein

Rep. Marion Greene

Sen. Scott Dibble

Rep. MaRion GReene Rep. FRank HoRnstein sen. scott Dibble

VIKINGS STADIUM
We voted against the Vikings Stadium financing plan because it relies too heavily on expanding gambling for the state share of funding, and places significant restrictions on the future use of Minneapolis sales taxes for non-sports facility purposes. The legislation also preempts the city charter, and as a result Minneapolis voters will have no say in whether city sales taxes should be used for stadium construction and operations. We supported plans that would have raised more revenue from private sources and stadium users, or revenue that also could have been used for more effective investments in our economic future. We will work to ensure that Minneapolis taxpayers will not have to contribute more if state gambling taxes fall short of projections.

2012 LEGISLATIVE REPORT

ANTI-MARRIAGE AMENDMENT
We are extremely disappointed that a constitutional amendment that will permanently restrict the freedom of loving, committed same sex couples to get married in Minnesota will appear on the November general election ballot. An incredible coalition has come together to defeat the amendment. This coalition seeks to displace the disinformation from amendment proponents with a civil discussion about the importance of freedom in our democracy; the fact that marriage is about love and commitment; and that, in Minnesota, we come together not to judge one another, but to treat each other the way we would want to be treated ourselves.

VOTER ID AMENDMENT
Another disappointing outcome of the 2012 session was passage of a constitutional amendment to require photo identification for voting, which will be on the November ballot. The amendment, if passed, will make it difficult for many Minnesotans to exercise their right to vote, including senior citizens, students, people with disabilities and new citizens. It threatens same-day registration and some forms of absentee voting. There is, in fact, no evidence of voter fraud and voter impersonation in Minnesota, and a voter ID requirement has significant financial costs to the state and to individual voters.

EDUCATION
Fully 40% of all school funding is now held back every year in a measure Minnesota Republicans passed in 2011 as their budget fix. In 2012, the majority party rejected long-term solutions to pay back schools and begin to permanently solve structural budget problems. The Republican legislature mimicked the national push of attacking public school teachers. While 40% of Minnesotas school districts have agreements with teacher unions that recognize factors in addition to seniority in the hiring and firing of teachers, efforts were made to institute a one-size-fits-all approach. In good news, the teacher evaluation process called for in 2011 is

well underway. Additionally, Minnesota was one of nine states to win a federal Race To The Top (RTT) early learning grant. Winning states were asked to demonstrate a commitment to making early learning programs more effective, accessible and coordinated.

universities, most notably $8.9 million for updating classroom and training facilities at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

PROPERTY TAXES
Republican budgets have driven property taxes, the most regressive tax, up 82%, fully $3.8 billion in the last 10 years via cuts to Local Government Aid and County Program Aid, cuts to K-12 education, and transportation costs pushed onto local governments. Before they would end their government shutdown last summer, Republicans insisted on eliminating the Market Value Homestead Credit, making permanent the cut to the renters credit, and expanding the accounting shift to which public schools are subject. Meanwhile, Republicans sought elimination of the statewide property tax for businesses, which once again would have pushed more taxes onto residents. One bright spot was our success in merging police and fire pension funds into the states larger pension system, eliminating what would have been a $26 million Minneapolis property tax levy.

TRANSPORTATION
The legislature missed important opportunities to expand public transportation and improve road and bridge safety. We succeeded in halting Republican proposals to both increase fares and cut Metro Transit. The Omnibus Transportation Policy bill included Dibble-Hornstein provisions to enhance bike safety and ensure that bicycles with a modest boost to pedals be defined simply as bicycles. While the bonding bill did include a small amount of funding for a downtown Minneapolis light rail and commuter rail hub, known as the Interchange, no progress was made to support the Southwest LRT line, nor the I-35W/Lake Street transit station. It also barely made a dent in funding needed for bridge and road safety improvements, which is particularly troubling as we approach the fifth anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse.

BONDING
The legislature made a $496 million investment in infrastructure improvements though the biennial capital bonding bill. While the Southwest Light Rail Transit Corridor was not funded (even with the strong backing of the metro business community and the citizens in the western suburbs), the bill does invest in a transit center to be located near the Twins stadium. Additionally, the final legislation contains $50 million for asset preservation and replacement for the University of Minnesota, and $95 million for investment in Minnesotas state colleges and

ARTS/LEGACY
In the face of continuing tight budgets, proposals were floated to divert constitutionally dedicated Legacy funds for a variety of projects, including the Vikings stadium, restoration of the State Capitol building, and even a proposal to insist that 40% of the fund address K-12 education needs. Such plans run contrary to the intent and language of the recently enacted Legacy Amendment. Highlights of the final bills were investment in aquatic invasive species research at the U of M and continued significant supplemental funding to be distributed by the Minnesota Arts Board.

our teachers, police and nurses. Those that got to Governor Daytons desk were promptly vetoed.

SHOOT FIRST
Shoot First legislation garnered a lot of attentiona bill that would have lowered the threshold for a person to legally fire a gun at someone. We especially appreciated Governor Daytons veto given the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Trayvon Martin in Florida.

CHOICE
Womens freedom to determine their own future, their own reproductive decisions, even their right to a fair wage were under withering attack this session. Numerous bills eroding access to safe, legal abortion, family planning services, health care providers, and even a constitutional amendment were introduced. Many were passed. Each was vetoed by Governor Dayton. Amazingly, we had to fight against a repeal of the long-standing guarantee in our law that women receive equal pay for equal work.

REDISTRICTING
Due to the 2010 census, all of Minnesotas legislative districts have been redrawn to reflect Minnesotas current population distribution. Unfortunately this means that Minneapolis lost two legislators, including Rep. Marion Greene. She bids you a fond farewell, with much gratitude for your support over the last two years. Maps of the new districts can be found here: http://www.gis.leg.mn/html/redistricting.html

RIGHT TO WORK
The labor movementthe right of workers to organize for better working conditionsis part of the larger movement for greater democracy, dignity and opportunity for Americans. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), fueled by big business, launched sustained, unyielding, Wisconsin-style attacks on workers. We stood up against daily assaults on wages, working conditions, benefits and a dignified retirement for public employees, including

CONTACT SEN. DIBBLE:

115 State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296-4191 [email protected] www.senate.mn/senatordibble

CONTACT REP GREENE: .

331 State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296-0171 [email protected] www.house.mn/60A

CONTACT REP HORNSTEIN: .

213 State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296-9281 [email protected] www.house.mn/60B