Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update on recent actions and notable events happening at the Capitol.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS UPDATE:
Survey
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Bill
Governor's Supplemental Budget
Constituents at the Capitol
Happy Easter!
Survey
My 2016 Legislative Survey is now available to take online, giving me another opportunity to gather feedback from constituents about important issues being debated at the Capitol. Your opinions are valuable and guide me toward supporting legislation that best serves our community.
To take my survey, just go to this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RepLoon2016
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! Also, don't forget to share my survey with your friends and family in District 48B!
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Bill
House Republicans are committed to providing relief for steelworkers and offer a boost for small businesses so they can reinvest and hire more people in Minnesota.
Today on the House floor, we passed two pieces of bipartisan legislation to extend unemployment benefits for an additional 26 weeks to out-of-work Iron Range steelworkers and to right-size the state's overfunded Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund which currently has a $1.5 billion balance. The credit in the second bill will provide $258 million to employers and reduce their future obligations to the trust fund when the balance exceeds the fully-funded threshold per federal standards.
This bills have no impact on the General Fund and will help workers hurt by the downturn in the domestic steel industry, as well as businesses both large and small across the state who pay into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The legislation is now headed to Governor Dayton, and he has indicated that he will sign both bills into law.
Governor's Supplemental Budget
Governor Dayton recently released his supplemental budget recommendations which includes $581 million in new spending initiatives as well as the reintroduction of his wholesale gas tax increase to fund transportation and a one-half cent increase in the metro area sales tax to fund transit. His budget does include $117 million in tax relief, but that relief is eclipsed by more than $900 million in new taxes that would be raised with the Governor’s proposed gas tax hike and sales tax increase.
Our state currently has a projected $900 million surplus, and I do not believe the legislature should be raising taxes. My priorities for this session are enacting tax relief and a comprehensive road and bridge bill that funds our transportation needs without a tax increase.
Constituents at the Capitol
Thank you to all of the constituents from Eden Prairie who have come to Saint Paul to talk about their priorities for state government this session.
In the past couple weeks, I have had visitors from the Minnesota Career College Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota, the Minnesota State University Student Association and the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association to name a few. I appreciate everyone who took the time to meet with me!
As always, if you would like to share your thoughts about what is happening at the legislature, don't hesitate to contact me or schedule a meeting. I am here to serve you!
Happy Easter!
Spring is officially here, and while Minnesota weather does not always cooperate, I am hopeful that warmer weather is just around the corner. For everyone who celebrates, I hope you have a wonderful Easter. I know there are a lot of great local events in Eden Prairie, so whether you're attending church, bringing the kids on an Easter egg hunt or just spending some time with loved ones, I hope you have a safe and joyous holiday.
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If I can be of any assistance to you with a state government matter, please feel free to contact me. I always welcome your views, questions and suggestions on issues of interest or concern. I can be reached via email at rep.jenifer.loon@house.mn or you can call my office at 651-296-7449. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Jenifer Loon