We're just days away from the start of the 2016 legislative session, and with less than three months to complete our legislative business I expect many long days ahead as lawmakers look to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time.
With what's expected to be roughly $1 billion in a projected state surplus, tax relief will be near the top of our priority list. Any surplus recognizes an over-collection of taxes from hardworking Minnesotans, so it makes sense to begin easing their tax burdens. The taxes proposal approved by the Minnesota House last year is still in conference committee, along with a similar bill approved by the Minnesota Senate, awaiting a compromise that can be approved by both bodies. It's my hope that when consensus is finally reached, it will include my legislation that eliminates income taxes on Social Security.
Long term transportation funding will also be discussed heavily. At first glance, it would appear the House and Senate are miles apart on a compromise. The House approved a proposal that would allocate $7 billion over the next decade to road and bridge needs without raising taxes, while the Senate passed a bill that ultimately would have raised gasoline prices by a minimum of 16-cents per gallon. But both transportation chairman have expressed that progress is being made on a long term solution. Stay tuned.
It's my hope that we'll also get serious about finding a solution to the MNsure disaster. We have wasted hundreds of millions of your tax dollars on this debacle, and it seems like we can't go one week without hearing about another nonsensical problem that's been discovered within this agency. My preference: put Minnesota on the federal exchange and stop throwing good money after bad on this failing program.
It is likely that legislation will be offered responding to the University of Minnesota's research utilizing fetal tissues from aborted babies, as lawmakers had no idea this type of research was occurring. Discussions are ongoing as to how this should be addressed.
I also expect there will be dozens of other issues debated before session ends on May 23. But the two big ticket items everyone will be paying attention to will be tax relief and transportation, and I’m hopeful we will pass these provisions into law.
As always, I am interested in your feedback. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Rep.Kathy.Lohmer@House.MN or contact my office at 651-296-4244. You can also send mail to my office address: 501 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.