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State Representative Mary Franson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3201
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
SESSION UPDATE
News From Representative Franson
Hello!
With only 2 weeks to go we are down to the wire at the Capitol. A couple of highlights from last week’s busy week include the constitutional amendments that were proposed and if passed would appear as a question on the ballot in November 2012. Aquatic Invasive Species is another problem in our area that I am working hard to address here in St. Paul.
Voter ID would be one of the constitutional amendments put before voters. The Voter ID bill, introduced by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, would require providing photo identification before one can vote. This bill proposes an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution requiring voters to present photographic identification and to establish eligibility to vote prior to casting a ballot. The amendment would also require the state to issue free identification to eligible voters. As you know, this was an issue that I supported on the campaign trail and am glad that we passed this common sense legislation. For those who wonder if this legislation would make it harder to vote - I ask you to visit the Heritage Foundation online. There is a wonderful article titled Photo ID Laws Do Not Reduce Voter Turnout, read it HERE. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Testimony/Photo-ID-Laws-Do-Not-Reduce-Voter-Turnout
H. F. 1612, authored by Rep. Keith Downey, proposes an amendment to the Minnesota constitution requiring that state expenditures from all sources for a two-year state budget must be limited to the amount of revenues received by the state for the previous biennium (two year period). It specifies that one-time repayments are exempt from this requirement and allows additional expenditures for a declared national security or peacetime emergency, another common sense item. We can NOT spend more than we take in. Our government needs to be responsible in spending your hard earned dollars and our government cannot grow faster than the income it takes in. It's YOUR money - NOT the governments.
Rep. Steve Drazkowski has introduced a bill that would require a super-majority of the legislature to increase taxes, just as bonding (borrowing money) requires a super-majority to pass. A super-majority would be 81 votes in the House. Requires a three-fifths vote by each house of the legislature to enact a law that:
• Increases the general rate of an income or sales tax
• Increases the tax base of an income or sales tax
• Increases property taxes
• Enacts a new statewide tax of any type
At the legislature we are working hard to find a solution for the growing problem of Aquatic Invasive Species. House File 1010 allows for funds to be allocated in order to combat these invasive species.
We are blessed with many wonderful lakes and natural resources but AIS is putting those precious natural resources in danger. We must take action to eliminate this problem. A game and fish bill to be included in the omnibus bill covers the policy portion to combat AIS. In this game and fish bill there will be strict rules regarding boats and traveling from lake to lake in an increased effort to reduce AIS. We need to make sure that water equipment coming from an infected area is decontaminated and cleaned.
We all love our lakes and so we need to keep them clean! Let’s do our part to make sure we leave these great lakes in good condition for our children and our children’s children.
On the floor this Friday we also passed HF 936 as known as Baby Pain Capable Act. This bill would require abortion providers to determine the probable gestational age of a fetus prior to performing an abortion. The bill would also prohibit abortions at or after 20 weeks post-fertilization, unless exceptions apply. I would like to thank Rep. Holberg for authoring this bill and for taking a stand against abortion.
Rep. Scott introduced a bill, HF 201, which would prohibit the use of funding for state-sponsored health programs for abortions, except to the extent required for continued participation in a federal program. I think we can all agree that tax payer dollars, your dollars, should not be used to take the life of a child. "Abortion always stops a beating heart".
As always please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns you have.
Hope you all have wonderful week!
Mary
News Items
- FRANSON SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 5:26PM)
- News from Representative Franson - (Posted: 2012-04-05 00:00:00)
- News from Representative Franson - (Posted: 2012-03-23 00:00:00)
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