Dear Neighbor,
I wish you and your family many blessings, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year as we quickly close out the year this holiday season!
Rep. Lucero enjoying traditional Christmas music fill the halls of the Capitol courtesy of a
talented group of students from Chippewa Middle School, North Oaks.
TRICKLE DOWN / SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS
House and Senate Republicans in Congress this week passed the giant tax cut and job creation bill sending it to President Trump for his signature. The legislation is the largest tax cut package since Ronald Reagan and will result in middle-class tax relief and increased economic liberty by allowing families and businesses to keep more of their own hard-earned money (money that already belongs to them to begin with).
In the days and weeks leading up to final passage of the legislation, Democrats were on full parade demonstrating non-understanding of job creation, income, and economic growth. On Monday, December 4, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described the Republican tax bill as "This is Armageddon" and "It is the end of the world." While the tax cut bill was being debated on the Senate Floor, protesters outside the Senate chamber chanted "Kill the bill, don’t kill us!" Allowing hard working Americans to keep more of their money and spurring economic growth at the same time promises not to be fatal to anyone and certainly will not usher in the apocalypse.
Despite Democrat continued attempts to generate fear and division, it was only mere hours after final passage of the legislation that the truth of Trickle Down Economics came into focus on parade for all witness:
Fifth Third Bancorp
- Announced it will pay more than 13,500 employees a bonus and raise the minimum wage of its workforce to $15/hour after passage of the Republican tax plan that will cut the bank's corporate tax rate.
AT&T
- Announced it would pay more than 200,000 U.S. employees bonuses of $1,000 each and increase its capital spending budget by $1 billion.
Wells Fargo
- Announced it would boost its minimum wage for employees to $15/hour, prompted by the tax plan, and that the San Francisco-based bank would also target $400 million in donations to community and nonprofit organizations in 2018.
Comcast
- Announced it will pay 100,000 frontline and non-executive employees special bonuses of $1,000 each, reiterating their decision was based on tax reform and the FCC's recent change in broadband rules eliminating Net Neutrality. Comcast also stated they plan to spend well in excess of $50 billion over the next five years on infrastructure improvements.
Boeing
- Announced $300 million in employee-related spending and charitable donations.
FedEx
- Announced during an earnings call on Dec. 19 they expect U.S. GDP growth next year as a result of tax reform and that FedEx would likely respond by increasing their capital expenditures and job hires to accommodate the additional volumes triggered by the higher growth.
Rep. Lucero speaking with Director Brian Koslofsky this week during a tour at Wright Technical Center in Buffalo.
WRIGHT TECHNICAL CENTER
I was honored this week to tour Wright Technical Center in Buffalo with Director Brian Koslofsky, Principal Shaun Karson, and constituent and former STMA School Board Member Jeanne Holland. As a former college instructor in the trades and as one who's made a career in the technology and real estate related trades, I came away from the tour very impressed.
Wright Technical Center (WTC) is a cooperative serving eight member school districts in Wright and Sherburne counties offering high school students fourteen different career and technical education programs.
The Mission of WTC is “To partner with member school districts and industry to prepare students for careers, post-secondary education and life-long learning” and the Vision of WTC “To provide an array of state-of-the-art career and technical programs and other educational opportunities in collaboration with member districts.”
Rep. Lucero joined several colleagues on a legislative panel this month at the North Metro chapter meeting of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). Much of the conversation focused on the future of health care in Minnesota and those Free-Market solutions that will bring much-needed relief to hardworking families and businesses presently being crushed by the costs of Obamacare/MNsure.
TURNING THE PAGE ON AL FRANKEN
Earlier this month U.S. Sen. Al Franken announced his intention to resign from the U.S. Senate but gave no specific date as to when. This week Sen. Franken announced his last day will be Jan. 2, 2018.
Gov. Mark Dayton has announced he will select former vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota from 2003-2006 and current MN Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith to replace Sen. Franken. Senator-Designate Tina Smith will assume office Jan 3, 2018.
A special election will be held Nov. 6, 2018 for the seat and the winner of that November special election will serve the two remaining years of the term. The seat will be up for election again November 2020 for a full six-year term.
Rep. Lucero was invited to meet with over a dozen clients and staff this month at Central Minnesota Mental
Health Center in Buffalo to discuss the very important topic of mental health.
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.
Sincerely,
Eric Lucero
State Representative
District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton