Legislature's crunch time ahead, on taxes, vehicle registrations, elder abuse, more

April 22--The Minnesota Legislature convened two months ago with a lot on its plate. But with less than five weeks until they have to wrap up their work, there's a growing risk much could be left undone.

Tax reform, elder abuse, the opioid addiction fight, school safety, a malfunctioning vehicle-licensing system -- and sexual harassment among their ranks -- Minnesota lawmakers began the year with a long list of priorities.

So far, they've accomplished little.

They spent the past week trading jabs over the best way to align the state's tax code with recent federal changes. Acrimony has been high, illustrating how far apart Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders in the House and Senate are when it comes to policy and spending changes.

Both sides went so far as to accuse their adversaries of "throwing mud in the gears" for political gain. And if they can't come to agreement on any of their priorities, the status quo will continue for another year.

"There's nothing that the administration has to have in this session," Dayton said Thursday. "There are things that are very important to have. Things that are going to benefit the people of Minnesota, like a tax bill, but there is nothing that we have to have."

Dayton's term will be winding down by year's end, and besides picking his successor, voters will decide the fate of all House members this fall. But the prospect of elusive accomplishments on big issues like taxes doesn't seem to have Republican leaders too worried.

"We've got a pretty large majority and I don't see that changing any time soon," Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo of Farmington said recently. He added that if Democrats continue to obstruct policy initiatives, they'll likely get "their fanny kicked" in November.

While lawmakers have publicly fought about taxes, House and Senate committees have worked more quietly to shape supplemental spending plans that will provide minor, but important, revisions to the state's current $46 billion, two-year budget.

But it's unclear if Dayton will accept those proposals because many lack money for his top priorities and include policy changes he might oppose.

Here's where things stand:

SAFER SCHOOLS, BUT DIFFERENCES ON EARLY LEARNING

Days before lawmakers convened in February, 17 students and staff were gunned down at a Florida high school. The Valentine's Day shooting put school safety on the minds of students, parents and lawmakers nationwide.

Minnesota legislators responded with a broad agreement on new spending to improve school security and make mental health care more accessible. But Republicans and gun-rights activists have steadily resisted Democrats' calls for stricter gun rules, even as parents and students have protested at the Capitol.

The Republican majority has also declined Dayton's and Democrats' repeated requests to make permanent $50 million of temporary preschool funding that will expire after next year.

Their rationale has been similar toward many Democratic spending requests -- the state may have a $329 million surplus, but this isn't a budget year.

"This is a decision for the next Legislature as part of the next budget," Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, said last week as the House Education Finance Committee she chairs worked on a supplemental school spending plan. "I think it is very clear we have demonstrated a strong commitment to quality early-childhood programs and targeted to kids who need it the most."

The education committee has also advanced a new school-rating system many parents have pushed for but that Democrats and the state teachers union resisted. Opponents say giving schools "star ratings" misses the complex challenges many students face and the intricacies that make schools successful.

PROTECTING VULNERABLE ADULTS

Reforming oversight of long-term care facilities shot to the top of lawmakers' list after last year's revelation that the state Health Department investigated too few of the growing number of abuse and neglect complaints of vulnerable adults.

After a lot of debate, many families' painful stories shared and triage by state officials to catch up on abuse complaints, lawmakers are pulling together a series of reforms to better protect Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens.

But advocates for the elderly and other vulnerable adults worry that new rules and regulations could be watered down as the bills work their way through the Capitol.

Debbie Singer, a Maplewood resident and veterinarian, recently told lawmakers her mother's body sat for days before it was discovered and care of the elderly can be "worse than doggy daycare." Singer says lawmakers have to enact meaningful reforms this year to keep vulnerable adults safe.

"You can't sweep it under the rug anymore," Singer said. "We owe it to vulnerable adults to give them the protection they deserve."

REINING IN OPIOIDS

Minnesota also needs to address a growing opioid crisis. Heroin, prescription drugs and other opioids killed 395 Minnesotans in 2016, and the death toll is climbing.

There's bipartisan support for a penny-a-pill fee on the powerful prescription painkillers that are the root cause for many opioid addictions, but strong opposition from drug companies has stalled the measure. Instead, lawmakers are likely to commit more taxpayer dollars to combat the crisis.

That money would fund ongoing efforts toward prevention and making successful drug addiction treatments more accessible. But it wouldn't be the steady stream of funding that advocates such as Rep. Dave Baker, a Willmar Republican who lost his son Dan to an opioid addiction, want in place to tackle the crisis.

It also wouldn't hold drug companies accountable for allegedly misleading doctors and patients about the safety of prescription opioids -- an allegation the pharmaceutical companies have denied.

#METOO, STATE BORROWING AND THE REST

Lawmakers began their work in February by replacing two of their former members who resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct. The resignations of Democratic Sen. Dan Schoen and Republican Rep. Tony Cornish led to widespread calls for new policies to prevent sexual harassment at the Legislature.

In response, lawmakers have attended training, task forces have been convened and legislation further prohibiting "butt-grabbing" have been debated.

Next week, House staffers say a bipartisan plan is expected to be introduced that would lower the burden of sexual harassment court claims. Additionally, Republicans will propose a major update to the House sexual harassment policy, but they've resisted calls from some Democrats for an independent panel to review complaints at the Capitol.

Years when lawmakers aren't negotiating a state budget are typically spent brokering a plan for the state to borrow money for infrastructure improvements. Dayton has proposed $1.5 billion for upgrades to infrastructure, water treatment and other priorities, but Republicans want to spend far less.

There's also been partisan disagreement on the best way to fix the state's new system for vehicle licensing and registration. Lawmakers begrudgingly agreed to put another $10 million into the MNLARS system, but Republicans want more heads to roll over the fiasco that has frustrated drivers statewide.

AN EYE TOWARD NOVEMBER

That's just a small sampling of the priorities lawmakers hope to accomplish in the month or so that remains in their lawmaking season. By June, many will be back home campaigning for re-election and hoping to highlight their successes.

But first, they need to find agreement to address some of the state's most pressing issues.

Dayton, who isn't seeking another term, and Republican leaders hoping to maintain their majorities and take over the governor's office say they can find a consensus.

Whether that's true remains to be seen.

Staff writer Dave Orrick contributed to this report.

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