MOHR member leaders assembled in Alexandria in August to hear from DHS, get updates on transportation funding, the new wage theft law and other items.
Extended Employment leaders from MOHR and lobbyist Shep Harris presented to the group. Lobbyist Kevin Goodno gave a 2019 session recap and look forward.
“There was a certain relative return to normalcy with this last legislative session,” said Goodno. “A number of people will say this is the toughest legislative session they’ve ever been through. I say that every year.”
The 2020 session is a non-budget year and starts six weeks later than typical, Goodno explained. This means the work is compressed.
In a non-budget year, legislators don’t have to pass any bills, Goodno explained. The exception is if they show the budget for the biennium is going into a deficit.
“They have a constitutional mandate to balance the budget,” he said. In a surplus situation, going into an election, legislators will “have a hard time not spending that money to show that they’re doing good things.”
The conference concluded with attendees posting their comments and priorities on large sheet displays. These will help guide MOHR’s Government Affairs Committee as it forms the organization’s legislative priorities for 2020.
