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State Representative Jeanne Poppe
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4193
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION POSITIVE FOR DISTRICT
After beginning our legislative session on March 1, I am happy to report we adjourned May 21 before the constitutional deadline. This session was marked by good bipartisanship, a significant change from the last few years.
I came into the 2006 session with several specific local priorities: continued funding for flood mitigation, approval for a local option sales tax referendum, bonding money for Riverland Community College and the Shooting Star Trail, and a licensing and capacity change for Catherwood Child Care Home. As a first-term legislator, I certainly understood reaching all of these goals might not be realistic. It is very gratifying to report all of these proposals were considered to have merit and were approved.
Once again this session, our area received significant funding in the $1 billion bonding bill. Two important components were passed to address flooding, a top priority for Austin area residents. First, we received over $4 million for flood mitigation. This comes on the heels of the $2 million we received in last year's bonding bill.
In addition to the bonding money, our request for the use of a local option sales tax was approved. This option allows Austin residents to vote on whether or not they want to use a local sales tax to generate more revenue for flood prevention and recovery. Historically, very few local option sales tax requests have been approved by the State Legislature, which speaks to the merit of this project. The sales tax will be presented to the voters for a vote before January 1, 2007.
The bonding bill appropriated $500 thousand for Riverland Community College Health Simulation/Science Lab and the Shooting Star Trail was designated for $750 thousand. Last year, over $5.5 million was appropriated to the Riverland Science Lab renovation and the Shooting Star Trail received $450 thousand.
The bill I authored for Catherwood Child Care Home also passed this session. The new legislation will allow for Catherwood to be licensed under home child-care licensing standards. In addition, a capacity variance was granted that will allow the program to offer flexibility during transition periods, such as early morning and after school.
There were several good statewide initiatives passed this session. The Mercury Reduction Bill moves our state to the forefront with regard to protecting our natural resources. Because of this new legislation, one-third of the mercury emissions from coal-fired plants will be removed from the environment.
Early Childhood initiatives received over $22 million in new funding. This includes a $2.7 million increase in the funding formula, as well as funding for other components such as reinstatement of the Minnesota School Readiness Kindergarten Assessment and an increase in child care provider reimbursement rates for children from low income families, which have been frozen for five years.
Meaningful eminent domain reform was passed, protecting the rights of property owners while at the same time allowing the power of eminent domain to be used as a tool for local economic development.
To address public safety concerns, funding was approved for the expansion of the sexual predators program as well as increasing the capacity for mentally ill and dangerous persons at the St. Peter Security Hospital.
The Omnibus Tax Bill made some adjustments to state tax law that will benefit middle-income filers. The state will now conform to the federal language on the marriage penalty, allowing married couples to take full advantage of the larger federal standard deduction on their state income taxes.
In addition, the amount of income that is exempted from the Alternative minimum tax (AMT) was increased. This is estimated to bring an average tax reduction of $540 to 44,000 Minnesota tax filers.
Funding for the Agriculture Best Management Practices (BMP) Loan program was also included in the supplemental budget bill, making at least $1 million available for zero interest loans to local units of government, who in turn provide low interest loans to individuals for agricultural Best Management Practices in individual sewage treatment plants.
While I am very pleased with most of the results of this session, there were clearly some missed opportunities - the biggest being the lack of any property tax relief. Over the past few years, property taxes have risen dramatically, with another double-digit increase predicted for next year. These increases are the result of the cuts of the past few years in Local Government Aid (LGA) and school funding. Rising property taxes are especially hard on people with fixed incomes, such as senior citizens, and young families just getting stared. This trend cannot continue and we need to make property tax relief a priority next session.
This session also did not include funding for either K-12 or higher education, health care or transportation. These fundamental values of our state will also be on top of the list of things to address next session.
With the end of the 2006 Legislative session, I will once again be back in the district full-time until the 2007 session convenes in January. Even though session has ended, I encourage you to contact me with your questions and concerns; I will continue to work on your behalf over the summer and fall. Thank you again for all of your support throughout my first term. It is truly an honor to represent you.
News Items
- POPPE SELECTED AS AGRICULTURE POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Rep. Jeanne Poppe Encourages High School Juniors to Apply for Minnesota House of Representatives Page Program - Application Deadline is November 19th - (Posted: 2012-11-12 00:00:00)
- HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION SIGNED INTO LAW - 2012 legislative session adjourns sine die - (Posted: 2012-05-11 00:00:00)
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