Atkins, Metzen Oppose Statewide Salary Freeze for Teachers, District Employees

When it comes to teachers’ salaries, District 39B Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL) is all for local control.

Which is why Atkins and District 39 Sen. Jim Metzen (DFL) both say they oppose SF56, a bill authored by District 36 Sen. Dave Thompson (R) that places a hard freeze on the salaries of all school district staff statewide through 2013.

A hard freeze means teachers, administrators and others employed by school districts and charter schools would be ineligible for direct salary increases, cost-of-living increases and step or lane changes. Under the proposed bill, employees who are promoted are still eligible for pay increases. The bill passed in the Minnesota Senate on Feb. 10 and is currently working its way through the Education Reform Committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Atkins, a former mayor of Inver Grove Heights, said a decision whether to freeze school district salaries is something best left to local officials.

“The best decisions are made by the people that are closest to the question on hand,” Atkins said. “When he was mayor, the last thing I wanted was the state telling us how we should run our city, because [state officials] were further removed.”

Metzen, who was absent from the Senate the day the bill passed because he was attending a funeral, said the bill unfairly targets teachers and other school district employees.

“I think it’s the wrong way to go, just look at what’s happening in Wisconsin,” said Metzen, citing the recent protests over a budget by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker that would curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

Atkins also voted on Thursday against a bill that lifts a two-decade moratorium on nuclear power plant construction. Although Atkins cast his vote in favor the proposal two weeks ago when it passed through a House committee Atkins sits on, the legislator’s support of the bill was contingent upon several amendments to the bill.

Those amendments, which included an stipulation giving local residents living near the site of a proposed nuclear plant the power to vote whether to allow its construction, were voted down on the house floor, Atkins said. The bill, HF9, passed by an 81-50 vote and will proceed to a conference committee before being signed into law, Atkins said.

Sen. Jim Metzen

New Activity:

— Metzen authored a bill appropriating $3 million to replace barriers with noise abatement walls along portions of the Hwy. 52 corridor. SF 391, introduced on Feb. 21. 

— Metzen co-sponsored a bill that would allow retired firefighters to have special license plates. SF393, introduced on Feb. 21 by District 5 Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL)

Existing legislation:

—A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects is still awaiting discussion by the Capital Investment Committee. This is the companion bill to HF74. SF49 introduced Jan. 18

—A bill co-sponsored by Metzen providing $1 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall is still awaiting discussion by the Capital Investment Committee. SF145, introduced Jan.27.

— A bill supporting job creation and offering business tax reductions that is co-sponsored by Metzen was referred to the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee. SF1, introduced Jan. 10.

Sen. Joe Atkins

New Activity:

— Atkins co-signed a bill appropriating $3 million to replace barriers with noise abatement walls along portions of the Hwy. 52 corridor. HF477, introduced on Feb. 14 by District 39A Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL).

Existing Legislation: 

—A bill authored by Atkins that would enhance identity theft and related fraudulent activity enforcement was referred to the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee. HF343, introduced on Feb. 3.

—A bill co-signed by Atkins that criminalizes synthetic cannabinoids passed through a second reading on Feb. 7. HF57, introduced on Jan. 10.

—A bill to increase the penalty for first-degree criminal sexual conduct that is co-signed by Atkins is awaiting review in the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. HF6, introduced on Jan. 10 by District 24B Rep. Tony Cornish (R).