ST. PAUL – On May 22, the Minnesota House of Representatives finished its work and adjourned for the year. State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center) said a number of provisions were approved that will benefit residents in southern Minnesota.
“Whether it was tax relief, stronger public safety provisions, or preventing a 16-cent per gallon gas tax from being forced on hardworking Minnesotans, I’m proud of the work we accomplished,” Cornish said.
Cornish said the legislature approved a tax relief package totaling more than $800 million over the next three years. Among the winners: parents through the expansion of the working family tax credit and the childcare tax credit; Main Street business owners with the repeal of the commercial-industrial property tax off their first $100,000 of property value - which is expected to save the average business owner roughly $1,000 a year; farmers with some property tax relief from school bond levies; college graduates with student loan tax credit; and veterans with an income tax exemption for their military pensions.
“For the past 14 years we’ve tried to exempt military pensions from the state income tax, and every year it fell just short,” Cornish said. “I’m glad we finally accomplished this, as it should make those who served in the military very happy.”
Locally, Cornish said he was pleased the City of Madelia will receive more than $1.2 million in order to help it rebuild its Main Street following a fire earlier this year.
In the area of public safety, Cornish was pleased that a police body camera compromise was reached that addresses personal privacy rights and protects law enforcement from unwarranted accusations and potential lawsuits. Drug sentencing guidelines were also revised that ensure the worst offenders remain in prison while those who would benefit more from treatment are not sentenced to serve time. Penalties were also strengthened against those who choose to douse police officers with bodily fluids.
Cornish noted that the House and Senate also agreed to a capital investment/transportation funding proposal that would have dedicated nearly $700 million to our road and bridge needs. The House adjourned after approving the plan, while Senate Democrats chose to break their promise because the proposal did not include money for another expensive train in Minneapolis.
“Senate Democrats actually went on Twitter and admitted they killed the transportation proposal because it didn’t include funding for Southwest Light Rail,” Cornish said. “Governor Dayton is now deciding whether to call a special session in order to approve bonding and transportation projects, so stay tuned.”