Minnesotans who want to use fireworks around the 4th of July received some good news recently, as the Minnesota House approved legislation that would make it legal to purchase and use firecrackers, bottle rockets, and other aerial fireworks in our state.
The Fireworks Freedom Act would allow aerial and audible devices to be sold and used from June 1 to July 10 each year. Only people above the age of 18 could make fireworks purchases. Local governments could charge an annual license fee to stores that want to sell fireworks.
According to some studies, Minnesota loses roughly $5 million in sales tax revenue every year when people drive over to Hudson and other Wisconsin and South Dakota communities to purchase fireworks.
I believe the time is right to give people the freedom to enjoy lighting a firecracker around Independence Day, and it’s worth remembering that the legislation includes a local control provision giving city officials the opportunity to decide if they want fireworks in their city. The bill now heads to the Minnesota Senate.
Last week the DFL Senate majority unveiled how it wants to utilize our projected $900 million budget surplus, and it chose to allocate less than four percent of it to transportation.
I found this hard to believe as everyone at the Capitol agrees that we need a long term investment in our roads and bridges.
The House Republican transportation solution uses taxes Minnesotans are already paying on car parts, auto repairs, vehicle leases, and rental cars and dedicates that revenue through a special fund called the Transportation Stability Fund. By adding in a portion of the $900 million budget surplus and bonding, the Republican plan would fix 15,500 lane miles of roads and 330 bridges statewide.
Meanwhile, Governor Dayton and the Senate DFL continue to push the largest gas tax increase in Minnesota’s history. The proposal forces drivers to pay a minimum of 16-cents per gallon more at the pump - a figure that would only rise as the price of gasoline increases - and would inevitably create the second highest state gas tax.
In addition, Senator Al Franken and Governor Dayton’s Metropolitan Council Chair recently urged legislators to spend state funds on Southwest Light Rail (SWLRT) this session. Total cost estimates for the SWLRT Green Line extension range between $1.2 billion and $1.77 billion. Federal and local tax dollars are expected to fund part of the overall cost of the project if it moves forward.
At that price, we could repave six lanes of every interstate in Minnesota and replace the Highway 243 bridge over the St. Croix River and still have massive amounts of money left over.
Nearly every Minnesotan travels on a road or bridge daily, so that should be our priority over light rail that benefits one section of the Metro Area. I’m hopeful we’ll see a significant road and bridge funding proposal moving forward in the next few weeks.
Finally, I’d like to congratulate Stillwater Area High School for being named one of the top high schools in the state! SAHS ranks 16th according to U.S. News and World Report.
According to the online magazine, only 56 out of 760 Minnesota high schools earn a ranking, which is based on schools that are best preparing students for college and careers. Higher than expected scores on state math and reading tests, high participation and pass rates on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams, and graduation rates helped rank Stillwater Area High Schools near the top of the class. Well done!
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.