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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL)

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Legislative Update - March 29, 2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

This is the last week of the legislative session before next week’s Easter/Passover break. The second deadline for legislative committees to pass bills is today (Thursday). Here’s an update on what’s been going on:

March for Our Lives

A growing number of Minnesotans are demanding we do something about gun violence this year. That was on full display Saturday, as 20,000 students and others marched from Harriet Island to the Capitol to protest and demand policy change. More voices, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and Greater Minnesota editorial boards like the Mankato Free Press are urging the Republican majority to take action. Two common sense solutions we should be acting on are universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people who pose a risk to themselves or others. To date however, those bills have been tabled in the Public Safety committee and are not moving forward.  Please join me in continuing to push for action!

House Image

March for Our Lives – St. Paul rally attendees. Photo Credit Brian Peterson-Star Tribune.

State Contracts Passed, Pension Updates Remain  

On Monday the contracts for 30,000 state workers were finally ratified. The Governor signed them immediately. These contracts were negotiated and approved last year but held up by partisan delays. I heard from many neighbors who are state employees who were increasingly apprehensive about the delays and the threat they posed to their family’s financial stability.  As a state, we owe gratitude to the Minnesotans who plow our roads, keep our water clean, monitor health emergencies, and respond when our state is in crisis.

Also on Monday, the Senate passed legislation to strengthen the long-term viability of state pension plans. The bill asks all involved in public pensions-employers, employees, and retirees-to contribute to this solution. I am hopeful that soon the House will follow suit. We have a responsibility to both taxpayers and retirees to fulfill our promise of a secure retirement.

Attacks on Union Rights

Last week, a bill that would bring Wisconsin-style anti-union changes (HF 3723) was amended and passed out of the Government Operations Committee on a roll-call vote of 10-8. The bill cripples the ability of public sector unions to collect dues for independent expenditures and eliminates their ability to accept voluntary paycheck deductions that contribute to a union’s political advocacy work. Workers in Minnesota have a right to organize for higher wages, safer working conditions, and a path to retire with dignity. I will be doing everything I can to oppose this bill.

‘Restore The Vote’ Tabled in Committee

For another year, the House Public Safety Committee has delayed HF 951, which would restore the right to vote for people convicted of a felony once they have been released from custody.  

MPR story available here: Wait will go on for felons seeking return of voting rights 

Your 2018 Home Value Assessment

Many home owners received home value notices from the City Assessor this week. Some of us surely raised eyebrows at the amounts our home values have gone up and our market value homestead exclusion have gone down. The lion’s share of the cause for these changes is the hot housing market we find ourselves in currently, and I want to make sure you know about the property tax process and your tools to appeal the assessment you received from the city. Keep in mind that your property valuation and your property taxes are not the same thing, and that next year’s property taxes will not be set until late this year.  The following is information provided from the City Assessor’s Office:

Value notices were mailed to property owners the week of March 19, 2018. This important notice provides 2018 property value and classification information. Note: The 2018 property value and classification are used to calculate property taxes payable in 2019.

The value notice provides information on appeal options, definitions of values and exclusions, and the property tax notice schedule.

Informational Links:

I welcome your questions and feedback, and encourage you to reply to this email or contact me at 651-296-0173.

Sincerely,

Jim Davnie