Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jon Applebaum (DFL)

Back to profile

Legislative Update - April 27, 2016

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

Just about one month remains in the 2016 legislative session, and this week we have been, and will be, taking up supplemental budget bills on the House floor. Recently, the GOP House majority unveiled its budget targets for these bills, and I find them underwhelming. While it’s not a “budget year” per se, a $900 million surplus provides an opportunity to improve Minnesotans’ lives, by, for instance, addressing our student loan debt crisis.

Instead, the GOP House majority proposed $0 for investing in the omnibus prek-12 and higher education bill, which passedMonday night. In addition, the GOP House majority proposed $0 dedicated for health and human services, and seeks to cut funding for critical areas like public safety and agriculture. I believe that with our state economic growth slowing, it would be prudent to not only make modest investments in these areas, but to also finally pass a comprehensive transportation bill, a bonding bill and target tax relief for homeowners, renters, seniors, students, families and small business owners. Indeed, we should be able to accomplish all of these goals while shoring up our budget reserve to protect against a future potential economic downturn.

In the remaining weeks of session, I look forward to working with members of both parties to make progress and deliver results in these areas for Minnesota families and businesses.

Student Loan Debt

Heading into this session, my top priority was to provide relief for the mountains of student loan debt Minnesotans face. On average, Minnesota borrowers experience the fifth highest average student debt burden in the nation. Yet the GOP House majority’s insistence not to provide any investments toward higher education means students at the University of Minnesota and MnSCU schools will see continue to see their tuition rise and student loan debt obligations explode. We have to do better than doing nothing!

Interest for Others Act of 2016

I recently introduced a bill (HF 3843) creating a resolution that calls on the United States Congress to pass the “Interest for Others Act of 2016.” This federal bill, carried by Congressman Erik Paulsen, would encourage charitable giving by providing a tax credit to those who, through a financial institution, donate earned interest to charity. Since such contributions would not be itemized as a deduction, it enables those in lower tax brackets to make these contributions. My bill awaits a hearing by the House Taxes Committee.

Jobs for Minnesota Workers

Last week, the Star Tribune reported that concession worker shortages at Target Field resulted in the ballpark’s concession and vendor management company, Delaware North Sportservice, busing out-of-state workers:http://www.startribune.com/worker-shortage-has-target-field-concessions-operator-busing-in-out-of-state-workers-for-games/376097431/. While I did not vote for publicly subsidizing any professional sports stadiums, those who did justify doing so by highlighting the economic development and local job growth. Well, clearly something is not working properly because there are surely thousands of Minnesotans looking for this kind of work who aren’t being hired – and hiring non-Minnesotans for these positions is baffling to me.

Consequently, I got involved and offered an amendment that would ensure that for all publicly-subsidized stadiums, no out-of-state worker may be hired unless multiple nearby job fairs are conducted, and all local workforce centers are consulted to verify the contention that a Minnesota worker shortage is occurring that necessitates out-of-state assistance. Sure enough, the problem has been solved:http://www.kare11.com/money/business/target-field-job-fair-yields-300-offers/154290066?source=nletter-. I am proud to have been part of the solution to bring more jobs to Minnesotans.

As always, I encourage you to contact me with your input on the issues before the Legislature, or if I can ever be of assistance to you. It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.

Sincerely,

Jon Applebaum