Peppin: Worthy Bills Suffer Vetoes

Editor's note: The following is reprinted, with permission, from Rep. Joyce Peppin's weekly email newsletter dated May 5. Peppin (32A) represents several communities, including Maple Grove.

Dear Neighbor,

In light of last week’s bipartisan optimism, the Legislature faced disheartening news as Governor Dayton vetoed four key pieces of legislation that were endorsed by a broad coalition of supporters.

In this issue:

1. Gov. Dayton vetoes legislation to provide small businesses with tax relief and to incentivize job creation

2. Gov. Dayton calls bipartisan redistricting effort “not appropriate”

3. Gov. Dayton blocks broadly-supported education reform

4. Gov. Dayton says no to pro-life legislation

1. VETO: Tax Relief and Job Creation Act

Just as quickly as the House passed our Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, the governor used his veto pen to block jobs and tax relief for tens of thousands of low-to-middle class workers and families.

Even though it was supported by the Minnesota Business Partnership, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the governor called it a “bad tax bill.”

We need to move away from the sound bites that vilify “corporations” and “the rich.” As one of my colleagues aptly stated on the House floor, main street businesses “are absolutely tired of the mantra that somehow they're the ‘evil wealthy.’” The small businesses that would have benefited from this bill are the main job generators in our economy today.

2. VETO: Redistricting Fix

Interestingly, 85 percent of Governor Dayton’s vetoed bills have been bills with bipartisan support! This is particularly evident with his recent veto of a remedial redistricting bill.

In February the Redistricting Court Panel submitted new congressional and legislative district boundaries with a major problem: a district line was drawn through a retirement community in Edina, effectively placing hall neighbors in different legislative districts. (See the actual photo of how the line impacted the actual community below.)

The Legislature faced the same problem 10 years ago. A GOP-controlled House and a DFL-controlled Senate unanimously passed and Governor Pawlenty signed a measure to remedy the problem.

That being said, this year the fix was introduced at the request of the City of Edina, supported by Democrat Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and endorsed by the League of Minnesota Cities. However, Governor Dayton vetoed it, saying it was “not appropriate.”

The Legislature and governor have the constitutional authority AND responsibility to make this correction. It is our hope that this veto does not result in increased voter confusion, increased election costs, and decreased voter turn-out.

3. VETO: Last In/First Out Reform

The Legislature’s “Last In/First Out” reform gained a lot of traction this year in an attempt to move beyond the status quo and retain teachers based on performance and seniority rather than seniority alone.

Yet, Governor Dayton declared a resounding “no” to supporters such as the African American Leadership Forum, Students First, MinnCan, Minnesota School Boards Association, Put Kids First, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota Business Partnership.

The governor has indicated that he will not pass K-12 education legislation that isn’t endorsed by the teachers’ union, Education Minnesota. Interestingly, if this were the case for all bills opposed by Education Minnesota, we would not have open enrollment, charter schools, or post-secondary enrollment options, all viewed as part of our strong education system.

My colleague, Republican Representative Branden Petersen of Coon Rapids, worked many hundreds of hours with stakeholders on this issue. He personally met with the Governor to seek an accommodation on the bill. Despite his best efforts, his bipartisan bill was vetoed. This is particularly disappointing and a failure to move away from the status quo on education.

4. VETO: Pro-life Legislation

Governor Dayton also vetoed my pro-life legislation that would prohibit the web-cam abortion technique, and instead require a physician be present when RU486 is administered to a woman.

I introduced this legislation to promote women’s health and to ensure that a doctor-patient relationship was established. In this instance, women do not receive an exam when receiving RU486, and deadly side effects can result.

The bill received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. While I am disappointed in the Governor’s veto, I will continue to work to pass this sensible legislation.

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As we near the end of the legislative session, please feel free to contact me. It is a pleasure and a privilege to serve as your State Representative, and it’s important that I hear from you.

Have a great weekend,

Joyce