Westrom: Bills heart to unionize day care, increase speed limi

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Editor's note: The following is a Week in Review column provided by State Senator Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake.

This week has been a busy one filled with committee hearings, floor

sessions, and constituent meetings. Two items in particular that were

addressed included a bill to unionize day care providers and another to

increase the speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph.

First, the Senate heard legislation (Senate File 778) this week that

would unionize day care providers. In 2011, Governor Dayton issued an

executive order to unionize day care providers in the State of

Minnesota. Last April, Ramsey County Judge Dale Lindman ruled that

Governor Mark Dayton did not have the authority to issue the executive

order. He said the decision must be made by the Legislature.

As introduced, the bill offers childcare providers the rights and

obligations of public employees. While the full meaning of that phrase

is not clear, we do know that those who do not want to unionize will

still have to pay up to 85% of union dues in the form of “fair

share” fees. Also, day care providers will be forced to be entirely

represented by government employee unions.

Creating an environment in which childcare providers are public

employees will not make childcare more affordable or responsive. There

are concerns that this legislation will raise the rates of day care

providers which will hurt families who use their services.

Secondly, On Wednesday, March 13, I offered an amendment to the Senate

Transportation Omnibus Policy bill to include a slight speed limit

increase from 55 mph to 60 mph except for in hazardous areas. The plan,

if approved, would be phased in over a period of time. Every time the

Minnesota Department of Transportation takes a 55 mph sign down for

replacement on a set highway or route they would instead replace it with

a 60 mph sign. This phase-in would eliminate additional costs for the

proposal.

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Senator Torrey Westrom may be contacted by telephone at (651) 296-3826 or (855) 407-7386, by e-mail at sen.torrey.westrom@senate.mn, or via mail at 107 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

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