Greetings from the Floor,
Last week was full of visits from constituency groups to the Capitol. I met with several folks from Moorhead, Clay County and the surrounding area who traveled to St. Paul for their group’s Day on the Hill. I’m always appreciative of people making the trip every year to advocate for their various causes. Thank you all for your engagement and participation.
On Thursday, the House passed a new version of legislation to extend unemployment benefits to laid off Iron Range workers. The new bill contained similar provisions for Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax cuts; however, changes were made from the previous bill to keep the UI Trust Fund solvent after the tax cuts. Rep. Metsa offered an amendment to split the bill and allow for separate votes on each issue. I voted for the amendment and, after the amendment was defeated, the final bill. I felt it was good policy to keep the two issues separate, but in the end those workers need the help now. The House majority is adamant that the two issues be addressed through one bill, and it is very unfortunate these issues have become political footballs. Ultimately, the communities and people on the Iron Range need the assistance without further delay.
I introduced two bills last week pertaining to Local Government Aid (LGA) and reimbursement rates for dental providers who treat medical assistance and MinnesotaCare patients. The LGA bill would add $45.5 million to the program in 2017, and implement an inflationary measure to the program. The dental reimbursement bill would bring reimbursement rates in Minnesota up to the national average. Minnesota ranks very low for dental reimbursement rates, and it is an issue about which I hear from dentists, early childhood education supporters and long term/senior care advocates.
Rep. Marquart and I presented three bills to the Property Tax and Local Government Division to address property taxes on agricultural properties on Wednesday. The two bills I had would increase property tax refunds for homestead agricultural properties and study how an income or production based assessment system would work for agricultural property taxes in Minnesota (the current assessment system is market-based from land values). The study bill is currently in the Senate Tax Bill, authored by Sen. Skoe, awaiting action by the House-Senate Tax Conference Committee. Rep. Marquart’s bill would increase the agricultural property tax credit for both homestead and non-homestead agricultural properties. All three bills generated very good conversation and the committee members understood the need for agricultural property tax relief and reform.
On Tuesday, Gov. Dayton released his supplemental budget for the remainder of the 2016 – 17 biennium. It includes $698 in supplemental appropriations and tax cuts. Some of the areas the governor focused on were:
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$30 million for voluntary pre-Kindergarten programs and additional early childhood program facilities
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$100 million for broadband development
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$21 million for MnSCU campuses
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$35.2 million for the University of Minnesota’s IT security and health care education
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$12.4 million for teacher workforce development and training
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$2 million for state employee paid family leave
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$58.4 million for various economic development initiatives
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$6.25 million to Minnesota Housing Finance to improve first time homeownership rates
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$14 million for transportation programs
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$46.5 million for Local Government Aid and County Program Aid
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Tax credits for child care, education expenses, senior citizens’ property taxes, people who work from home and increased Working Family Tax Credits
Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,
Ben