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State Representative Bob Dettmer
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4124
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
Email Update
Session Update
Throughout the budget balancing process, I have been committed to building a strong future for Minnesota. As educator and family man, I believe we must empower our schools while offering tax relief to Minnesota families. This week we have stood behind our desire to have government live within its means. After decades of uncontrolled spending growth, we don’t need to raise taxes. A key element of economic recovery is putting more money back into the economy. The best way to do that is to put it into the hands of the taxpayers. Our budget provides tax relief to lower and middle income Minnesotans. Here is a brief overview of the Omnibus finance bills that the House has undertaken this week:
Taxes
• Passed the House floor on Monday, March 21 with nearly $300 million dollars of tax relief for middle class families
• Reduces the 1st-tier income tax rate from 5.35 percent to 4.75 percent
• Reduces the 2nd-tier from 7.05 percent to 6.75 percent
Cultivates a business environment ready to lead Minnesota out of the economic recession with sales tax exemption for capital equipment an upfront exemption— a huge capital benefit for small and emerging businesses. It modifies the R&D tax credit, dedicates withholdings for science and technology and reduces the state property tax levy on commercial industrial properties
Transportation:
• Passed the House on Monday, March 21st
• The bill increases funding for local roads by $126 million. It also boosts state highway funding by approximately $120 million to reflect growth in gas and motor vehicle sales tax collections
Environment:
• The $228 million bill reduces projected spending by $65.4 million while maintaining the highest standards for water and air safety
• Streamlines the permitting process
K-12 Education
• Passed the House on Tuesday, March 29th.
• Our proposal is about “Kids first, no excuses, no exceptions”
• Establishing an A-F school grading system that will help reward achievement for schools that increase performance
• Per-pupil funding would steadily increase from $5,124 to $5,250 in 2014
Higher Education
• Continuing to have government live within its means, we propose to reduce funding while still protecting students.
• Increases funding for the State Grant Program by $27 million
• No reduction to Work Study Program
• No reduction to Postsecondary Child Care Grants
• Improves ability to transfer credits within the MnSCU system
Agriculture:
• Passed on March 30th. This bill prioritizes funding to maintain the integrity and safety of the food supply in Minnesota, and minimizes reductions to programs and services that benefit farmers.
• Reduces Department of Agriculture by 15.2 percent. Governor Dayton proposed a 14.9 percent reduction. House GOP reductions include grant programs, value-added products and marketing and promotion.
• Reduces Board of Animal Health by 5 percent from $12.366 million to $11.856 million. This proposal is the same as Governor Dayton’s in his budget recommendations.
Public Safety/Judiciary
• During tough budget times we have to make core services like courts and public safety a priority.
• Makes funding core court operations a priority in providing constitutional and statutorily mandated services.
• Protects juveniles involved in sex trafficking and prostitution crimes as “sexually exploited youth” rather than prosecuting them for prostitution.
• Limits reductions to battered women’s programs.
• Requires Human Rights Department's state funding to be used for enforcement, not advertising, education, or outreach programs.
• Raise co-pays for prisoners who want to visit a doctor.
• Moves offenders with less than 60 days remaining on their sentence to county jails rather than state prisons.
• Increases prison sentences for predatory sex offenders, rather than move them to the expensive Sex Offender "Treatment" Program.
Throughout this process I welcome your thoughts regarding these legislative matters. I would like to hear your thoughts; you can share them by taking my online survey
As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of being your state representative.
Bob
News Items
- LIMITED SPENDING AND COMPETITVE TAXES GROW OUR ECONOMY - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 3:29PM)
- BOB DETTMER SWORN IN TO FOURTH TERM AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 3:28PM)
- April 5 Legislative Update - (Posted: 2012-04-05 00:00:00)
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