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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
State deficit limits disaster relief
Following the devastating flood destruction in our area, the support and assistance we have received from around the state has been greatly appreciated. This week we received another acknowledgment of the impact this disaster had on our region. The Small Cities Development Program grants were announced and our area received two, both to assist with demolition of flooded residences and commercial structures and tenant relocation related to the 2004 flood.
The city of Austin was awarded $456,000 for these projects and Mower County will receive $728,400. City Engineer Jon Erichson and the city staff submitted the grant application for Austin and the Mower County staff wrote their application. I want to commend them for their work; this assistance will help our communities with further flood damage recovery.
The Small Cities Development Program was created to help smaller cities provide decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities to their residents, principally for persons of low and moderate income. Federal grants are awarded annually to cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000 are eligible. The grants are announced each March and the money is disbursed as project costs are incurred.
Not too long ago we were hailing the bonding bill funding for Austin flood assistance for over $2 million. While both the House and the Senate indicated they wanted to pass the bill early in the session, it is currently stalled in Conference Committee. Some members of the Committee have indicated that even though this process is supposed to be between just these two bodies of government, the Governor is already involved, promoting his own agenda. This is clearly frustrating. Both the House and the Senate made the jobs bill a priority, hoping it could be passed in time for spring construction. Now there is talk of the likelihood of a special session unless this is resolved by Easter, which seems nearly impossible considering the lack of progress.
When the bonding bill is finally passed, we will receive our funds to help with our ongoing flood recovery efforts. While we appreciate all the help we can get, our state budget deficit is clearly limiting the amount of money that is available. Two other cities that experienced similar disasters, St. Peter and Roseau, received considerable more money, and much more quickly. They were fortunate that at that time our state had a budget surplus, making it much easier for them to get emergency help. We are feeling firsthand the impact of a state government that continues to operate in the red, leaving no cushion for anything extra, even natural disasters.
Many of our first-term legislators are in office now because voters were angry that so little was accomplished during the last session. We have taken that charge to heart and are focused on getting things done. On February 17 the DFL first-termers introduced a bill that would prohibit the per diem increase for legislators during special sessions that are called when the legislature fails to pass necessary legislation during the regular session. Not only do we want to strongly encourage that the legislature stay on task and get the job done in the allotted time, we do not believe that taxpayers should be penalized when we fail to get the job done.
Tax time is fast approaching and I want to take this opportunity to remind you to take advantage of a state tax incentive for parents who are involved in their children's educational needs. Minnesota's Take Credit for Learning program offers parents an education tax credit or tax deduction for eligible expenses for K-12 education.
Eligible items include non-religious textbooks and materials used in such classes as shop or industrial courses, home economics, dance, art, music and other subjects. Purchase or rental of musical instruments used for class during the school day can be claimed, as can transportation and admission or fees for school trips.
Some after-school enrichment programs also qualify for the deduction and credit. Included are instructor fees for music and dance lessons, academic tutoring, science exploration and study habits coaching.
There are two different tax programs, one a deduction and the other a credit. All families with dependent children in grades K-12 are eligible for the Education Tax Deduction, regardless of income. Families earning less than $37,500 qualify for a tax credit that allows them to claim a refundable credit of 75% of every dollar spent on eligible goods and services.
It was great to welcome Riverland Community College President, Dr. Terry Leas, two students and one biology faculty member to the Capitol last week. An AFSCME union member from the college also visited on the same day. They were all here to show their support for the college science lab funding that is included in the bonding bill.
I was able to get out into the district last week, something I try to do as much as my schedule here will allow. Senator Sparks and I spoke to the Ellis Middle School 8th graders for Liberty Day. We also participated in the Austin 11th hour on the 11th day event on the courthouse lawn, a commemoration event to honor our soldiers who are overseas and to offer support to their families back home.
I was fortunate to be given a comprehensive tour of the Hormel Institute in Austin, where they are doing cancer research. Clint Calvert, Public Relations Director, who was at the Capitol last week to testify before the joint committee of Agriculture Environment, Natural Resources Policy and Finance, gave me the tour.
In order to provide the latest information to the residents in my district, I have started an email newsletter that will provide periodic updates on what is happening here at the Capitol. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please email me at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn and your name will be added to our list.
Please feel free to call or write if you have ideas or concerns you want to share about state or local issues. I can be reached by phone at 1-888-682-3180 or 1-651-296-4193, by mail at 231 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at the above address.
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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