Dear Neighbors,
We stayed busy this week at the Capitol and passed some larger bills I think can help our state. As we head into another beautiful weekend, here’s a short update from St. Paul.
Distracted Driving Legislation Passes
On Tuesday, we passed our proposal related to public safety, HF2856, on a bipartisan vote of 92-35. Contained in the legislation was my bill to increase penalties for those who kill or harm others while they’re driving and distracted by their cell phone.
We’re seeing technology grow faster than the law, and I think it’s time for the law to catch up. The punishment is much more severe if the driver is under the influence of alcohol, and I think texting and driving should carry a comparable punishment if the driver kills or hurts an innocent victim. I’m happy to see bipartisan support for our public safety proposal, and for my legislation to decrease distracted driving deaths move one step closer to becoming law.
Recovery Legislation
We passed our health and human services bill earlier in the week which contained my provision to provide money so the Minnesota Recovery Corp can expand their offered services. The Recovery Corp is a program for individuals with direct or indirect experience with addiction to help others on their path to recovery. I’m proud to author and help pass this provision so we can assist even more people seeking help for addiction.
Local Bonding Projects
Earlier this week, we unveiled our plan for this year’s bonding bill. After hosting the Capital Investment Committee at a couple of our possible projects, I was hopeful we’d see these initiatives included in the legislation. One of the big projects that’s funded in our bill is the Health and Emergency Response Occupations (HERO) Center in Washington County. Almost $10 million would be used to construct the center with the rest being paid for by Cottage Grove and Woodbury.
My bill to fund the Seidl’s Lake stormwater lift station is also part of the proposal. I’ve worked closely with South St. Paul mayor James Francis to present the case for this project to committee members, and I’m thrilled to see it make the first bill.
In the next couple weeks, I’ll continue to advocate for the inclusion of these local projects in any final bonding agreement.
Tax Conformity
Starting this session, we knew a main goal of ours was to pass a bill to help us conform to the new federal tax laws. On Monday, we passed our legislation - on a bipartisan vote of 90-38 - to simplify the tax code and make filing easier next year.
Some of the highlights of our bill include:
- Providing a tax cut for 2.1 million filers.
- Helping middle-class Minnesotans keep more of what they earn by cutting the second tier income tax rate from 7.05% to 6.75% by tax year 2020. This would mark the first income tax rate reduction in Minnesota since 2000.
- Lowering taxes for people at all income levels by increasing the standard deduction for all filers.
- Protecting families by preserving a state personal and dependent exemption of $4,150.
- Encouraging affordable homeownership by allowing a state-itemized deduction of up to $30,000 in property taxes.
- Supporting hometown businesses and farmers by reinvesting extra revenue from corporate tax changes into Section 179 conformity and overall rate reductions.
Please Contact Me
There’s about two weeks left in session, so it’s more important than ever to reach out to share your ideas and suggestions. I’m here to listen to you and be a voice for our area.
Have a great weekend,
Keith