Matt Dean in MN legislative records

On Abortion: Voted YES on additional requirements for abortion clinics

• A clinic or health center in which the pregnancies of ten or more women are willfully terminated each month shall be licensed by the commissioner of health.
• The operation of such a facility without obtaining a license is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $300.
• Comprehensive inspections, with no notice required, shall occur up to two times per year.
• The annual license fee is $3,712.

Excerpts from Veto Letter:I am returning SF1921, because this bill would impose extensive new licensure requirements on [abortion] clinics. The bill is vague in its definition of potential licensure violations, and could permit complaints to be filed for almost any reason. There are approximately 1,250 clinics in Minnesota already subjected to significant state and federal oversight.

Legislative Outcome: Rep. Matt Dean voted YEA; passed Senate 43-23-1, April 18; passed House 80-47-6, April 20; vetoed April 26

On Abortion: Stricter licensure requirements for abortion facilities

• Impose new licensure requirements upon facilities which perform 10 or more abortions per month
• Apply existing rules for outpatient surgical centers to targeted clinics.

• [Regarding surgery rules]: Clinics are very different from surgical centers. For example, under surgery center rules, clinics would be prevented from offering other services such as primary and preventive care.
• There are six abortion clinics in Minnesota which would be affected by the legislation. All are members of the National Abortion Federation which sets clinical policy standards and inspects every member.
• There is sufficient oversight of clinics, and there is no evidence of poor quality or unsafe procedures being performed.

On Abortion: Require exposure of abortion clinic employees for licensure

Analysis by Planned Parenthood : This bill compromises patient and provider privacy, putting their safety at risk. This bill requires that abortion clinics report the names and license numbers of all "health care professionals" who work at the clinic in their applications for licensure. A politically motivated Commissioner of Health could use this legislation to target abortion providers for harassment.

Veto Message: House File 809 infringes upon women's basic right to health and safety--a right of every woman, regardless of the type of health insurance she has. This bill would interfere with critical medical decisions that should be made between a woman and her doctor.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-53-0 on Apr/24/17; State Rep. Matt Dean co-sponsored the bill and voted YES; Passed Senate 35-29 on May/4/17; Vetoed by Gov. Dayton on May/10/17

On Civil Rights: Voted NO on same-sex marriage with religious exemptions

The following prohibitions are removed: A marriage entered into by persons of the same sex, either under common law or statute, that is recognized by another state or foreign jurisdiction is void in this state and contractual rights granted by virtue of the marriage or its termination are unenforceable in this state.

Legislative Outcome: Rep. Matt Dean voted NAY; passed House 75-59-0, May 9; passed Senate 37-30-0, May 13; signed by Gov. Dayton, May 14

On Civil Rights: Constitutional amendment disallowing same-sex marriage

An section shall be added to the Minnesota Constitution article XIII, to read:
• Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota.
• The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2012 general election as: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?"

On Drugs: Voted NO on establishing rules for medical marijuana

• "Disqualifying felony offense" means a violation of a state or federal controlled substance law that would be a felony if committed in Minnesota.
• "Health care practitioner" means a licensed doctor or advanced practice registered nurse, who has the primary responsibility for the treatment of a person diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition.
• "Medical cannabis" means any species of the cannabis plant, or any mixture or preparation of them, including resins, liquids, oils, pills, or vaporized delivery method.

Legislative Outcome: Rep. Matt Dean voted NAY; passed Senate 46-16-5, April 24; passed House 89-40-5, May 9; signed by Gov. Dayton, May 29

On Drugs: Voted NO on legalizing medical marijuana

• Legally protecting qualified patients and primary caregivers for limited amounts in possession
• Issuing registry identification cards to qualifying patients, primary suppliers, and treatment facilities
• Requiring criminal history background checks of primary caregivers before issuance of a registry identification card
• Sunset provision (automatic expiration of law)

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 70-64-1 on May 18; Rep. Matt Dean voted NO; passed Senate 38-28-1 on May 18; vetoed by Gov. Pawlenty on May 22

On Education: $400M for early childhood & K-12 education instead of $606M

Excerpts from Veto Letter:The bill' s total investment of $400 million is insufficient given the state's large surplus. In 2013, with a projected budget deficit of $627 million, the spending increase for E-12 education was $606 million. It is astonishing that with a $1.9 billion surplus, there would be less invested in our schools in 2015. And it is incomprehensible that estate tax cuts for millionaires is a higher priority than investing adequately in our students & young children.

Legislative Outcome:Rep. Matt Dean voted YEA; passed House 69-61-0, April 25; passed Senate 39-28, April 29; vetoed by Gov. Dayton, May 21

On Energy & Oil: Voted NO on cap-&-trade for greenhouse gas reduction goals

• The legislature finds that a cap and trade program will achieve Minnesota's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals in a cost-effective manner.
• The right to emit greenhouse gases should be auctioned to emitting facilities rather than allocated at no cost, with proceeds from the auction invested in projects that advance the transition to a low greenhouse gas-emitting economy.
• A greenhouse gas cap and trade program is best pursued in cooperation with other Midwestern states.
• A "climate trust fund" is established [to manage revenue from auctions]

OnTheIssues explanation: Cap-and-trade was first popularized in the 1990s under President George H.W. Bush as a means to efficiently reduce CO2 emissions.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 91-38 on April 23; Rep. Matt Dean voted NO; passed Senate 43-21; signed by Gov. Pawlenty on May 19.

On Energy & Oil: Remove CO2 emissions ban; authorize new coal plant

• Authorizes 1,500 megawatts of energy to be imported from out of state facilities if they meet the following requirements:
• The facilities are fueled by feedstock coal; and
• The facilities began construction after 2007.
• Repeals exemption based on a project contributing a specified fee per ton of CO2 emissions emitted annually by the project, to fund permanent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Veto Message: I vetoed and am returning Senate File 86, a bill that significantly rolls back Minnesota's restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions by energy utilities. Minnesota does not now need any new coal-fired power plants. Coal-fired electricity poses unacceptable risks to human health and to our climate.

Legislative Outcome: Bill Passed House 76-54 on May/11/2011; Rep. Dean voted YES; bill passed Senate 44-22 on 5/21/2011; vetoed by Gov. Dayton on May/22/2011.

On Environment: Voted NO on Great Lakes Water Resources Compact

• the waters of the basin are precious public natural resources shared and held in trust by the states;
• the waters of the basin are interconnected and part of a single hydrologic system;
• continued sustainable, accessible and adequate water supplies for the people and economy of the basin are of vital importance;
• Purposes of the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact:
• to act together to protect, conserve, restore, and effectively manage the waters and natural resources of the basin despite current lack of full scientific certainty
• to facilitate consistent approaches to water management across the basin while retaining state management authority.

On Government Reform: Constitutional amendment requiring photo ID for voting

All voters must be subject to identical standards of eligibility verification before voting and the state must make photographic identification available to eligible voters at no cost to them. The following persons shall not be permitted to vote at any election: A person not meeting the above requirements [for photo ID] ; a person who has been convicted of a felony, unless restored to civil rights; a person under guardianship, or a person who is not mentally competent.

Legislative Outcome: Vetoed by Gov. Dayton on April 4, 2011 and hence reintroduced as constitutional ballot initiative; passed House 72-62 on March 20, 2012; Rep. Matt Dean co-sponsored bill on March 7 and then voted YES; passed Senate 35-29 on April 4; defeated 54%-46% by voters as "Amendment 2" on Nov 6, 2012.

On Immigration: Voted NO on complying with federal REAL ID

• a valid, unexpired US passport
• a certified copy of a birth certificate
• a valid, unexpired permanent resident card, certificate of naturalization, or unexpired employment authorization document
• a valid, unexpired passport issued by a foreign country and a valid, unexpired US visa accompanied by documentation of lawful admittance into the US

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 72-58-0 on Feb. 23; passed Senate 60-7-0 on March 30; Rep. Matt Dean voted NAY; signed by Gov. Dayton on May 18.