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State Representative Dan Fabian
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9635
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
News From Representative Fabian
Minnesota Management and Budget released the annual February budget forecast on Wednesday, indicating a surplus of $323 million. The surplus comes after another surplus was released in November. A $1.2 billion surplus has been announced since the Governor signed the bill erasing the $5.2 billion deficit eight months ago.
This is definitely good news. When I came to St. Paul over a year ago, we had a $5.2 billion deficit we knew would be very difficult to erase. Slowing government growth and not raising taxes has proven to be beneficial for Minnesota.
According to state law these funds will go towards replenishing reserves and at least $318 million will go towards repaying the school shift, with first payments going out to schools around March 15th. This is great news for our schools. It is my hope that our economy will continue to improve and we will be able to repay the education shift very soon.
This week the Game and Fish bill, HF 2171, was heard in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. We talked about Timber wolf season starting at the same time as deer rifle hunting season.
HF 1890, the Bovine TB bill was heard in the Taxes Committee and will continue to be discussed next week. There is no significant opposition to this bill.
HF 1842 was also heard in the Taxes Committee this week. This bill would allow all businesses engaged in manufacturing, fabricating, mining refining, and data retrieval services may purchase capital equipment exempt from sales tax; however they must pay the sales tax at the time of purchase and then apply for a refund. A business is limited to filing no more than twice per year for capital equipment refunds.
The capital equipment refund requirement is a holdover from the time when the tax exemption on capital equipment was only a partial refund and only capital equipment used for new or expanding business was exempt; replacement capital equipment was subject to the full sales tax. For more information you can visit the MN House of Representatives website.
This week I met with Gene Halverson from the Department of Transportation in the office of freight and commercial operations. We talked about farm implement dealers that have a difficult time getting permits to transport farm machinery that needs to be repaired that is over 14.5 feet wide. The DOT has agreed to extend the length to 16 feet, also making available to dealers the use of emergency permit phone number which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This issue was brought to my attention by Bruce Guy at Titan Machinery in Roseau and Brent Lunke at Evergreen Implement Company in Thief River Falls. I appreciate Mr. Halverson and the DOT’s willingness to work with local farmers and businesses to make it easier to carry out commerce.
On Tuesday I attended the MN United Snowmobilers Association gathering. I listened to their concerns and enjoyed visiting with many of the members.
Congratulations to the boys Prowlers hockey team on their section 8A championship! Good luck at the state tournament.
Don’t forget to take my 2012 legislative survey online.
If you have any legislative questions please don’t hesitate to call my office at 651-296-9635 or email me at rep.dan.fabian@house.mn
Have a great weekend!
Dan
News Items
- Stand Up for Rural Minnesota! - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 1:31PM)
- Rep. Dan Fabian named Top 10 of best freshman legislators - (Posted: 2012-08-27 00:00:00)
- State Rep. Dan Fabian recognized for his work to help business expansion, economic growth - (Posted: 2012-07-10 00:00:00)
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