So, What is Happening?  It's been a couple of months and there has been a lot of action, but it's all boiled down to an impasse that few hoped, but many predicted, would happen as the 2019 legislative session rolled along.  All of the major conference committees have been meeting, but there has been very little headway on items that will have major impact in terms of policy or finances.

It's been no different in the education conference committee.  The first few days consisted of:

In which the two sides outlined their vision and the provisions of each bill were presented and discussed.  After that was finished, the conference committee launched into:

And provisions that were either the same in both bills or similar were discussed, sometimes amended, and adopted.  Since then, action has slowed and much of that is due to the overarching effect that the unresolved budget situation is having on the proceedings.  Everyone across the board in both bodies are waiting for a decision on the fiscal parameters that the various conference committees will be accorded as their final bills are put together.  Unfortunately, it seems this song is an apt description of the loggerheads that leadership has found itself in:

As expected, the tax issue is the cloud through which the sun cannot pierce at this point.  Much of the Governor's and House's plans rely on extension of the medical provider tax and an increase in the gas tax to both bolster the state general fund by removing road repair/construction costs from it and provide funding increases in a number of budget areas, including E-12 education.  This approach resembles a loose thread on a sweater (I called the Tortured Analogy Department for this one).  Currently, the revenue leakage from the general fund is like a loose thread and the Governor's tax policy is trying to snip that thread with his proposed tax policies.  The Republicans, while not yanking on the thread, don't seem willing to snip it by increasing taxes, which leaves us in a limbo from which a rapid escape seems unlikely and the fate of the sweater lies in the balance.

I do want to report that there are referendum equalization provisions in both the House and Senate, with $25 million in the House E-12 bill and just below $15 million in the Senate Tax Bill.  I have informed decision-makers that SEE prefers the higher amount (thanks Captain Obvious) and would like it in the Tax Bill as opposed to the E-12 bill.  Like everything else, the ultimate fate of the proposal will depend on how much revenue will be on the table for this and other purposes.  I want to thank all the authors of our equalization bills (Representative John Huot, Representative Brad Tabke, Senator Roger Chamberlain, and Senator Carla Nelson) for their support and the chairs of the committees (Representative Jim Davnie and Senator Roger Chamberlain) who are carrying the provisions in their omnibus bills.

I haven't been using the blog with regularity this session (as you have likely noticed), but as the regular session comes to a close over the next week, I hope to keep you informed of the action (or inaction).  Let me know if you have any questions or comments regarding the status of particular pieces of legislation.  Catch me at 612-220-7459 or brad.lundell@schoolsforequity.org.