Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is a verse from the Old Testament that speaks from my heart on this weekend that we honor mothers:
Proverbs 31:25-31 – Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
With less than three weeks to go until the end of the 2016 legislation session, there are still a number of important issues that remain unfinished including a tax relief bill, transportation package and a bonding bill.
I have spent time over the past several weeks discussing the House’s transportation and tax relief plans so I want to focus on this session’s bonding bill—which will play an important role in end of session negotiations. I hope to have proposals included in all three bills.
Earlier this week, the Senate released details of their $1.5 billion bonding bill, a proposal that is the largest in state history.
The Senate’s excessive bonding proposal would increase the debt burden on hardworking Minnesotans. The state already spends about $1.5 billion each biennium paying off debt from past capital investment bills, and it is one of the fastest growing spending areas in our General Fund. The average bonding bill over the past decade has been around $800 million.
I respect hardworking Minnesota taxpayers and will continue to focus on their priorities in the final weeks of session. Simply put, we should not be considering borrowing more money at a time when we have existing resources to put towards tax relief and fixing our roads and bridges. While I ultimately believe a bonding bill will pass, it will certainly be much smaller than the Senate’s $1.8 billion proposal.
Please note that if you plan to travel north on Hwy 101 at Rogers and then Hwy 169 at Elk River, you will encounter road projects north of Milaca and near the casino at Vineland. Please drive carefully and make sure to stop and enjoy the many great eating places on 169 or on Hwy 27 east of Cove, Wahkon and Isle. The golf courses at Izaty’s and Isle are looking lush so please enjoy these as well. Finally, I encourage you to stop and enjoy Lake Mille Lacs as we all look forward to the opener. Remember, there are many species of fish in the lake so angling should be very good.
That’s all for this week’s update. As always please be sure to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-6746 or via email at rep.sondra.erickson@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Sondra