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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Eric Lucero (R)

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You Need a Break

Friday, March 3, 2017

Dear Neighbor,

Gov. Mark Dayton is battling prostate cancer and had surgery this week to have his prostate removed.  Please pray the Lord sends His hand of healing to Gov. Dayton for a successful and speedy recovery.


BUDGET SURPLUS
The Minnesota Management and Budget Office this week released the most recent tax over-collection forecast.  Tax over-collection has grown by another $250 million for a projected tax over-collection accumulation of $1.65 billion by the end of the fiscal biennium (June 30, 2017).

Surplus money in the state's pockets equals less money in the pockets of hard working Minnesota families and businesses.  Minnesotans need a tax break and a tax break now!  Republicans are currently working to pass significant tax relief to keep that money where it belongs, in the pockets of hard working Minnesota families and businesses.

SECOND HEARING ON MY TAX CUT BILL
As I continue working to bring maximum tax breaks to hard working Minnesotans, I’m chief author HF 656, a bill seeking to allow all Minnesotans to deduct the cost of their health insurance premiums from their Minnesota income taxes.  Several weeks back my tax cut bill had a successful hearing in the Health and Human Services Reform Committee and this week my tax cut bill had a successful hearing in the House Taxes Committee.  I will continue to work with the Chair and members of the Taxes Committee as the omnibus tax cut bill is formed with the goal of keeping money in the pockets of hard working Minnesota families and businesses.

 

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Rep. Lucero explaining his health insurance premium tax deduction bill to members of the House Taxes Committee.

EMAIL RETENTION / GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY
The Minnesota Data Practices Act currently exists to govern records retention requirements by government agencies as well as guide the procedures individual citizens may follow to submit requests to government agencies to obtain copies of the government records for citizen inspection.  I am a strong supporter of Minnesota's Data Practices Act because ensuring government transparency and accountability is one of my core beliefs.

The origins of the Data Practices Act dates back to the 1970s when government records and correspondence primarily consisted of paper hard copies.  Due to the ongoing evolution of our society becoming more digital, government records and correspondence being digital have become more commonplace with things such as emails rather than hard copy letters and memos.  The use of digital records has resulted in some ambiguity regarding requirements government agencies must follow to retain digital records of their internal activities.

Recent headlines have revealed some government agencies are retaining email records for as short as a mere 30 days.  Deleting email communications after 30 days results in potential negative impacts to government transparency and accountability.

I am co-author of bill HF 1185 which seeks to expand the definition of records and communications government officials and agencies use and retain to include digital records.  HF 1185 also establishes a 3-year minimum retention requirement of said digital records.  HF 1185 was heard in the Civil Law Committee this week and successfully passed.  The next stop for the bill is the Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee.

UNIFORM STATE LABOR STANDARDS ACT
Several cities around Minnesota have recently been working to impose wage, vacation, sick time, and other new local mandates on businesses.  Our great Minnesota businesses are already struggling to navigate the complex web of existing regulatory mandates while at the same time working hard to simply stay afloat.  Additional mandates imposed by local government will only result in further crippling our job creators.

The Uniform State Labor Standards Act passed off the House Floor Thursday evening will prevent local governments from creating a hodgepodge patchwork of non-standard wage and benefit mandates on job creators across the state.  I’m proud to have voted in favor of the bill.

 

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Rep. Lucero meeting professional commercial driver John Bumgardner who has driven 5 million accident free miles over the course of his career, which began in the 1960s. Mr. Bumgardner stated, “John Glenn has nothing on me.” The two plaques are Mr. Bumgardner’s awards when he reached the 1M and 2M mile marks.

STAYING IN TOUCH
As always please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you may have that will assist me best represent you.  The best way to reach me is by email at rep.eric.lucero@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-1534.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Eric Lucero
State Representative
District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton