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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
Much work remains before adjournment
By State Rep. Paul Anderson
As the clock ticks down on the 2009 legislative session, all the major spending bills have been passed by the House of Representatives. That doesn’t mean, however, that activity is winding down. Approximately two weeks remain before the May 18 deadline, and much is left to do.
Conference committees have been named to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of bills, and then each body must ratify those bills before they are sent to the Governor. That’s when it will get interesting since Governor Pawlenty has threatened to veto any bills than contain tax increases.
The omnibus tax bill, passed by the House April 25, certainly falls into that category. If enacted, this bill would touch the billfolds of nearly every Minnesota resident. It raises taxes on incomes, cigarettes and alcohol, along with ending the sales-tax exemption on the private sale of boats, ATV’s, and snowmobiles.
This bill would repeal tax credits for K-12 educational expenses, dependent care expenses, long-term care insurance premiums, and the gas tax credit for those with low incomes. It also takes away itemized deductions for property taxes, mortgage interest and charitable contributions.
To be fair, the Democrats are in a tough position. Because they are in the majority, all these major bills are put forward by them. This bill barely made it out of the Tax Committee and, when put to a vote on the House floor late in the evening last Saturday, 18 of their members voted against the bill. It passed by a margin of 68-65, the minimum number of votes needed to pass a bill.
Attended the open house last Sunday in Glenwood of the newly remodeled and expanded Glacial Ridge Health System. The $10.7 million project was partially funded by more than $800,000 in community support. The facility is beautiful and will serve the needs of the area for many years to come.
Health care facilities play a major role in local economies. Approximately 200 people are employed at Glacial Ridge, and the gross payroll is more than $7 million. Clinics in Glenwood and Brooten are part of the system, in addition to an ambulance service with operations in Starbuck, Brooten and Glenwood.
During discussion on the House floor of the Higher Education Bill, it was brought out that in 2008 a total of 65 foreign students receiving some type of athletic scholarship attended classes in the Minnesota State College and University System. By far the largest number, 47, of these student-athletes were from Canada, and they were mostly hockey players. Three each came from the countries of Brazil and Sweden, while two hailed from Austria. Ten other countries were represented by one.
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Rep. Anderson encourages constituents to contact his new office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached on the web at www.house.mn/13A and via email at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn. To contact Anderson by phone, call (651) 296-4317. Mail can be sent to Rep. Paul Anderson, 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
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