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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Duane Sauke (DFL)

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Legislative Update - April 26, 2018

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

With fewer than four weeks remaining in the 2018 legislative session, we’ll be seeing omnibus bills, a bonding bill, and tax conformity legislation come before the House for votes in the days ahead. Here are some of the latest updates from the Capitol:

Budget and Tax Bills Update

Now that the budget targets have been released and bills crafted to match, we’ll be voting on omnibus finance legislation once they arrive on the floor from committee. These supplemental budget targets aren’t large since the surplus is a modest $329 million, but I would have liked to see more substantial efforts to make college more affordable and a greater emphasis on economic opportunity for every Minnesotan.

We’ve also had a chance to look at the Republican tax bill and compare it to Gov. Dayton’s proposal, which he released several weeks ago. While they share several key components, Gov. Dayton’s is targeted more specifically to provide cuts for Minnesota families and includes a larger tax cut for farmers and small businesses.

There will be plenty of debate in the days ahead, so I’ll keep you up to date on developments.

Common Sense Safety

It looks as though any reasonable actions on gun safety have stalled for this session. I’m disappointed the Republican majority blocked these efforts multiple times, especially because a majority of Minnesotans support common sense legislation.

We should be taking reasonable action like universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders that make our communities safer while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, April 28 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Minnesotans can drop off leftover opioids in approved drop boxes for proper disposal, no questions asked. This is the recommended method of disposal for opioids as it helps prevent crime, drug abuse, and accidental poisoning.

To find nearby locations, follow this link.

Home Care Service Providers

Last week, I had the honor of meeting with advocates from The Arc Minnesota and other advocates to discuss the important changes that must be made to ensure fair pay for home care service providers. These members of our community care for the most vulnerable among us and they deserve fair compensation for the difficult work they do every day.

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If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please reach out to me at the Capitol. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Duane Sauke

State Representative