Rosemount Legislators Talk 2012 Session, Bonding Bill

The Minnesota Legislature is convening at the Capitol today at noon to begin its 2012 session. Patch spoke with Rep. Kurt Bills (R-District 37B) and Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-District 37) to find out what their priorities will be in this new session as well as opinions on bonding and the Vikings stadium.

This year's session will be 10-weeks long in comparison to last year's 16-week session.

Last Year's State Shutdown

According to Gerlach, the shutdown seems like ancient history. 

However, he hopes they can put together some type of proposals for how to avoid a shutdown again.

Bills said (in light of the shutdown), “In my opinion, I think the forecast is going to dictate a lot of (the attitude at the Capitol). I think if (we) come back and there’s not going to be another fight about the budget—because we’ve solved those issues—then I think there’s more of an attitude to get along – and (say), 'Hey! The reforms that we did worked.'”

Legislation

Each legislator highlighted legislation they hope to work on this session.

Bills

Bills authored a veterans-related bill in 2011 that should be brought forward again to the 2012 session. The bill is supposed to help retired veterans 'get back on their feet' in a positive way, and has, according to Bills, bipartisan support.

"The bill is for a refundable tax credit for placing returning veterans (happily) in the position they had with their (previous) company," Bills said. "Even though it is federal law that the government has to do this, my bill goes to giving that veteran some power, where in order to get the refund the veteran has to sign off that he has been placed and is happy in the role the he’s in, and that he believes the employer has went to the greatest extent to help them (in any way they were able to)."

In addition, Bills would like to restructure the state tax/property tax system.

"Our property tax system is so absolutely confusing,” Bills said. “It is one of, if not the most confusing states for property taxes.”

He added, "I would like to work with county and local officials … with people who have specific knowledge on taxation to try to simplify that problem,” Bills said. “And, of course, to try to restructure our overall tax system for economic growth.”

Gerlach

Gerlach plans to work on a bill that would allow the creation of public benefit corporations. 

A public benefit corporation merges the positive aspects of nonprofits and for-profit corporations, Gerlach said. 

According to Gerlach, the public benefit corporation could serve a public purpose, but does not have to have the high returns a for-profit would be obligated to have. It would have investors for the corporation, as opposed to just donors to a nonprofit. Also, it would have a solid business model so it doesn’t lose money.

"It can take some burden off the government,” Gerlach said.

Another bill he's working on involves the economics of occupational licensure. Gerlach believes there should be "higher hurdles" to create a licensing requirement for professions. In more and more occupations in the past few decades it has become required that employees are licensed. 

He said there should be "occupational licensing when citizens’ health and safety are truly at risk.” 

However, there are some professions where Gerlach feels it is uneccesary to require one to have a license, which makes it tough for someone to get started in specific professions. 

"I am about tearing down those barriers … where public health and safety is not at risk," he said.

Bonding

Bills

Last year, the state passed $500 million in bonding bills, which Bills voted against. He feels we need to look back historically on what the bonding bills have been, wants to re-evaluate what our guiding principles are in terms of bonding, and look at what level of bonding the economy can handle and what level of bonding the State of Minnesota can handle. 

"I just think we should proceed with caution when we think we can borrow and create a better future," Bills said. "Of course debt can be managed, however, you have to be cautious when using debt to seek economic growth."

Gov. Mark Dayton's proposal, which was released last week, included local projects and new or additional building footage that Gerlach said he doesn't support.

Gerlach said we should be focused on taking care of what we have, including asset protection, roofs, remodeling and HVAC.

"We neglect taking care of what we have because it’s not politically profitable," Gerlach said.

Vikings Stadium

Bills

Bills said he isn't sure if the 'should we' debate is over concerning the Vikings stadium, but that there are lots of other items that should come first before deciding on the stadium. 

Bills feels they should settle into the Capitol, and concentrate and move forward with the Reform 2.0 ideas.

The principles of Reform 2.0 include:

1) Analyze costs within education, healthcare and energy

2) Pursue a growth-friendly tax structure

3) Reduce Minnesota’s regulatory and permitting requirements to an optimal level. 

"We should move those forward…because these are ideas that 60-70-80 percent of Minnesotans agree with," Bills said. "Let’s be organized, let’s get together, let’s compromise where we can, and get the reforms passed that make our government structurally sound, and then we can have the debates about the Vikings and the bonding."

Gerlach

Gerlach said he's opposed to taxpayer-subsidized items for professional sports. He said he feels the NFL has enough revenue to pay for things such as a new stadium, and, thinks "it’s a travesty that we even have to deal with these issues." 

All legislators can really say at this point is whether they are for or against the concept because there’s no actual plan yet. 

Until you have major issues such as cost, funding source and location settled, there is no proposal, Gerlach said.

2012 Election

Bills is currently in the midst of his first term and will run for re-election in 2012. Rosemount resident in District 37B earlier this month. 

"I respect him (Wilfahrt) for stepping forward and offering to serve his community," Bills said.

Gerlach said he doesn't think the shakeup in Republican leadership will have an effect on the election—people care more about the product of legislators' work, he said.