Rosemount Legislators Focus On Jobs, Budget Woes

Each week we plan to offer an update on what your local state legislators are doing. This week we found they are focused on the dual challenges of grappling with a large budget deficit, while at the same time working on ways to grow the state's economy.

Rep. Kurt Bills, R-Rosemount, who's in his first House term, said that he's spent a lot of time getting up to speed on the budget and determining how he could have the biggest impact.

"We deal with some incredibly complex issues, particularly when it comes to the budget," he said. "I knew that was going to be the case when I was elected and I teach economics (at Rosemount High School). So it's not as if I have difficulty grasping the figures. But there are so many moving parts and so many factors that you have to keep in mind when you're dealing with a budget as complex as one on the state level. Every decision you make has a dozen other consequences, and you have to keep all of those in mind."

Bills is a former member of the Rosemount City Council and is also a teacher at Rosemount High School. So he has a unique perspective on the education system and it's current budgetary issues. He said that while he hasn't noticed the average class size increase much in the classes he is teaching, he knows that the legislature has had to make some tough choices on funding the local school districts.

"I've been struck by just how complicated the funding formulas are for schools," Bills explained. "I believe that in many cases it's not simply a matter of not having enough money. It's also a matter of the money that we have not being allocated in the most effective ways."

While Bills said he is still getting settled in at the Legislature, he has already identified several areas where he plans to focus his attention. He recently introduced a bill which would increase the research tax credit for corporations.

When asked about the challenges of proposing a tax credit at the same time the state is facing such a large budget deficit, he said "That's certainly a huge factor in any plans we are making to encourage job growth in the state....We can't afford to do anything that would make it more difficult to balance the budget. But we can't afford to ignore the problem of unemployment. Voters expect us to be financially responsible. I'm working now to see just how we can increase that R&D credit in a way that would not impact the state's bottom line."

Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Rosemount is adapting to his new role as chairman of the Commerce and Consumer Protection committee, which deals with a range of business issues.

He recently spoke with Apple Valley Patch editor Allison Wickler and he told her he has a range of topics he plans to work on in the upcoming session. Those issues include the Cedar Avenue corridor funding, a revamp of the Market Value Homestead Credit as well as mandate relief for local government.

But as is the case with Bills, jobs and the budget will be the primary focus this session.

"Obviously putting Minnesota back to work, creating jobs, making that private sector work is No. 1," he said.

Resolving the state's $6.2 billion deficit is the second priority, he said, because the deficit is a symptom of the overall issues with the economy. He said it will be important to look at whether government is helping or acting as a roadblock to people trying to small businesses and entrepreneurs trying to create jobs.

Here’s what happened last week with some bills authored or co-authored by Apple Valley's legislators:

Rep. Kurt Bills
Bills is one of the authors of HF0008, which was introduced Jan. 10. The bill would establish the healthy Minnesota contribution program, where certain MinnesotaCare enrollees would receive a contribution to purchase health insurance.

Bills is chief author on HF0011, which was introduced Jan. 10. The bill would increase the research tax credit for corporations, effective after Dec. 31, 2010. 

Bills is an author on HF0067, which was introduced Jan. 13.  The bill would limit general fund expenditures during the 2012-13 biennium to forecasted revenues. 

Bills is an author on HF0092, which was introduced Jan. 13. The bill would repeal the Teacher contract deadline aid penalty.