Frederickson,

Clark: No

shutdown

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PAUL -- Both Brown County lawmakers are optimistic the 2001 State Legislature will beat the clock in averting a shutdown of state services Sunday.

State Rep. James Clark, R-New Ulm, believes the legislature will finish its work by Thursday or Friday. State Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm, says it will get done, but it might go as late as Saturday.

"I'm confident, however, that we will not see a wholesale shutdown of state government," Frederickson said.

Neither sees most remaining legislation presenting a problem. The problem, if there is one, Frederickson said, would be the health and human services bill. "That's the toughest."

Clark agrees.

"The big problem is the welfare reform provision limiting welfare recipients to five years in the program," Clark explained. "The Senate wants to undo welfare reform which the House feels very strongly about."

The Senate is, in effect, supporting Gov. Jesse Ventura's proposal that would allow 95 percent of recipients nearing the end of the five-year period to obtain an extension.

"We (in the House) believe there is a need to have a way of handling recipients with extenuating circumstances," Clark said, "but we certainly don't believe that recipients should have carte blanc to stay in the program after their five years are up."

Clark was excited by the progress made in the House Monday. "We passed both the environment and agriculture bill and the higher education bill today." He looks for the House to pass the omnibus tax bill on Wednesday.

Clark noted the K-12 bill's preliminary run indicates a $500,000 increase in state funding for District 88 in recognition of its existing levy referendums. In effect, the state is recognizing the impact of property tax reform on those referendums.

The omnibus tax bill will provide an additional $500,000 for New Ulm, Clark said, for "local government aid" for smaller communities to maintain comparable basic services including police, fire and roads.

Today, the House will be handling two more large finance bills, jobs and economic development and early childhood education, Clark said. Frederickson who returned home Monday afternoon does not have to be back until tomorrow.

"I'm very pleased that we are continuing to stand up for property tax payers with historic reform and reduction," Clark said. "The tax bill contains 20-25 percent reduction in taxes homeowners pay, a 25 percent reduction in agriculture taxes and a 10 percent industrial tax reduction.

That's double digit reduction in property taxes while holding the line on state spending to single digits."