Friends,
I hope everyone has been enjoying the warmer weather we’ve been having the last few days. While I’m sure we will see subzero temperatures again before the end of winter, it’s always nice to have a small taste of spring. With the legislative session beginning next Tuesday, February 20, I wanted to send out an update on the session ahead.
As things in St. Paul get underway next week, I look forward to building on last year’s historically successful session. It was especially positive for Minnesota’s taxpayers, as my House Republican colleagues and I worked to enact the state’s largest tax relief in over two decades. Our tax bill contained $650 million in relief over the current biennium, and $790 million in 2020-21. Among the beneficiaries receiving significant relief are senior citizens, business owners, families, and students.
We also passed a historic transportation investment in roads and bridges (without raising the gas tax) as well as made critical progress lowering health care costs and increasing access to coverage. Furthermore, we passed legislation to provide K-12 education with $1.3 billion of increased funding in addition to impactful reforms designed to secure the best possible teachers for Minnesota’s students.
2018 Legislative Session
With the state’s budget being balanced last year, the 2018 session’s focus will be on policy reforms and statewide bonding projects. Like last year’s, any bonding bill the legislature approves this session will be focused heavily on ensuring the infrastructure and transportation needs of our communities are met.
A top priority that must be addressed this session is federal tax conformity. In order to make sure Minnesota’s taxpayers can smoothly file their taxes in the years to come, and experience the full benefit of the tax bill passed in Congress, it is essential that we bring Minnesota’s tax code into compliance with the newly changed federal code. At the core of our efforts will be a commitment to ensuring that any additional revenue generated by conforming is returned to the hardworking taxpayers of Minnesota.
Another issue that you will likely hear more about as the session progresses is our state’s MNLARS system. Many of you have personally experienced significant complications with this failed system. Minnesotans have already provided nearly $100 million in funding for it, and now the Department of Transportation is requesting an additional $43 million to address ongoing problems. The taxpayers of Minnesota deserve a system that works, and we will continue to explore all options in order to find solutions and hold MNDOT accountable.
Minnesota Civility Caucus
Last session, I helped form the Minnesota Civility Caucus with Rep. JoAnn Ward (DFL-Woodbury), Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake), and Sen. Susan Kent (DFL-Woodbury). This caucus is a bipartisan group of legislators created to promote trust and understanding between parties with the goal of creating the best possible policies for all Minnesotans. As policy debates intensify, it remains important that we all remember that, regardless of party, all legislators are here to ultimately do what they believe will make Minnesota a better place for us all to call home.
Contact Me
If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-5387 or rep.roz.peterson@house.mn.
Sincerely,
