Friends,
Not only is this week "Statehood Week" with Minnesota celebrating the 159th anniversary of becoming a state on Thursday, May 11th, but I also had my first bill hit the House Floor. The bill makes two technical changes to the Minnesota State Lottery. The first provision clarifies that the lottery cannot award prizes to minors and the second makes it so the lottery no longer needs to count its employees' pensions against its operating budget, which is approved by the legislature. It passed with unanimous support! You can read more on the bill here. Look at all that green!
Rep. Barr with the voting board in the background for her first bill
on the House Floor, 125-0!
Tax Relief & Reform Bill Re-Passes House
The compromise tax bill between the House and Senate that passed the House this week is great news for all Minnesotans. For those with young children, there is a significant tax credit to pay for child care expenses and credits for families saving for college. There is also a first-in-the-nation tax credit for student loan payments and we begin to phase out the taxation on social security income for middle-class seniors. Bottom line is that more Minnesotans of all age groups will get to keep more of their hard earned money. The bill was put together hoping to gain the governor's signature and, to that end, a number of the provisions in the bill are things the governor has asked for. I hope he will sign the bill.
Transportation Plan Passes House
With the Transportation Plan that passed the House this week, we are addressing a statewide need and a core function of the state government. We do this by using existing resources and NOT raising taxes. The compromise plan between the House and Senate dedicates $2 billion toward our transportation needs with an emphasis on roads and bridges. I hope the governor will sign this bill and get Minnesota the long-overdue fixes needed to our roads and bridges.
Inver Grove Heights 5k
Last weekend I participated in the 19th annual Inver Grove Heights B.E.S.T. Foundation May Day 5K. There was great weather, great people, and fantastic conversations with constituents. I hope to do it again next year.
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On this day in History
In 1903. President Teddy Roosevelt's trip to San Fransisco was captured on film, making him the first US President to have official activity recorded on film. The short movie that was created was entitled "The President’s Carriage" and was later played across the country. The film showed Roosevelt riding in a carriage and escorted by the Ninth U.S. Cavalry Regiment, which was unusual for the time, according to the Library of Congress and contemporary newspapers, because it was an all-black company.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office any time by calling me at 651-296-4192, or share your thoughts by emailing me at rep.regina.barr@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Regina