Dahl: Difficult legislative season ahead
Rarely is it easy being a legislator, but 70th District Rep. Don Dahl, Hillsboro, thinks the 2002 session will be more difficult than ever before.
"This is going to be the roughest session since I've been there," Dahl said.
Expected state income hasn't developed and most budget projections indicate cuts in agency budgets.
"We were seeing this slowdown last year, which is why we tried to limit spending last year," Dahl said. "Nationally, things are supposed to pick up in the first quarter this year, so we hope that's true."
Dahl said the state has to be like families and private business, simply tightening its budgets during lean times. In recent years the state was cutting taxes and increasing budgets.
"Once you've given funding, it's hard to take it back," Dahl said.
Schools may not see a cut in finances but may not see an increase, either.
Gaming options
Gaming supporters are using the budget concerns as an excuse to bring up their proposals, he said, but the same questions still exist.
"How much money will that generate for the general fund?" Dahl asked. "They might throw out the number of $80 million, but maybe $20 million is more accurate, or maybe $10 million."
He also is concerned that the long-term societal costs are lost in the debate about how gambling impacts the short-term budget woes.
Dahl expects efforts to allow alcohol sale on Sundays to resurface for similar reasons: People drive across state lines to spend their money, and allowing it will generate more income for the state.
However, most social issues will be delayed this year, Dahl said, because everyone wants to see who the new governor and attorney general will be.
"It's always hard to tell exactly what will come out," he said.
Redistricting discussions are taking place. Dahl said that all the posturing now ultimately will end up with one or two versions that the majority of the House will accept and that will pass judicial review.
The terrorist attacks have affected the state economy somewhat though the economic slowdown was already occurring.
"States that have a large tourism industry really felt it," he said.
The state has beefed up security in some areas and is investigating the theoretical possibilities of bio-terrorism, but Dahl said people shouldn't over-react to those fears.
The 2002 election probably will have an impact on this legislative session, if for no other reason than some powerful legislators may seek other offices.
"It can be hard to do what you were elected to do while trying to run a campaign," Dahl said.
