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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Abigail Whelan (R)

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Legislative Update from Rep. Abigail Whelan (5.19.18)

Saturday, May 19, 2018

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It was a privilege to be up at the Speaker’s podium during session this week.

 

Dear Neighbors,

Here is an update from your Capitol and around our community.

Senate File 3367

This week, the House and Senate passed my legislation that would require all hotel and motel workers to undergo training on how to properly identify and report sex trafficking to proper law enforcement officials. The bill passed unanimously in the House and near-unanimously - only one nay vote - in the Senate.

I wanted to send a sincere, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who supported the bill, prayed for the bill, who came and shared your experiences/opinions with me, one another, and members of committee. Without the help and support of so many, none of this would have been possible.

I am so humbled by all of the support that I have received throughout the entirety of this process. I truly believe that your efforts have made Minnesota a safer place for some of the most vulnerable and exploited among us.

Ultrasound Bill Update

I am sorry to share that on Wednesday, Governor Dayton vetoed my Women’s Right to Know bill. This bill would have required a physician to notify women undergoing an ultrasound prior to an abortion procedure that she may view the active ultrasound image of her unborn child if she would like to (the woman may turn down the opportunity to view).

I am disappointed that he vetoed legislation that I believe would empower women and ensure they all have more relevant information in front of them when making the decision whether or not to get an abortion.

For more, see: http://www.startribune.com/gov-dayton-vetoes-abortion-ultrasound-bill/482816601/

National Police Week

It’s National Police Week, and I wanted to send out a sincere thank you to all of the brave men and women who protect our state and communities as members of law enforcement.

National Police Week also honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. You can learn more about National Police week here.

Tax Bill

This week, the Senate and House came to an agreement on tax legislation, passing the bill and sending it to Governor Dayton. Unfortunately, Governor Dayton vetoed the bill. Still, we hope to maintain at least some key provisions from our plan, which provided a tax reduction for more than 2.2 million Minnesota filers. Also under our plan, middle-class Minnesotans can keep more money in their pocket, as we reduce both the first and second income tax tiers by 2020 from 5.35% to 5.25% and 7.05% to 6.85% respectively. We also protect families by preserving a state personal and dependent exemption of $4,150, as well as preserve a number of deductions.

Getting tax conformity done is so important for filers next year, as we want to ensure Minnesotans can take full advantage of state and federal tax relief. I will keep you updated as we continue to work toward a final resolution this weekend.

Childcare Fraud

A recent Fox 9 report showed upwards of $100 million of state childcare subsidies being fraudulently allocated to childcare facilities, with some of the dollars being funneled overseas. This investigative report was surprising and upsetting, to say the least, as it means that hardworking taxpayers and the families who need these programs are being defrauded.

In response, House Republicans unveiled legislation that will do the following:

  • Allow the Department of Human Services (DHS) to use “Immediate Temporary Suspensions” to close childcare providers that do not fully cooperate with investigators if they are suspected of fraud
  • Create criminal and civil penalties for those who transfer fraudulent public program funds to countries on the US State Department travel ban list
  • Create increased fraud prevention measures in public programs including Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and other welfare programs
  • Direct the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to investigate CCAP

Dedicating More Funding Toward Transportation

This week, the House passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide whether to constitutionally dedicate existing sales tax revenue from auto parts to statewide road and bridge construction. These are already collected transportation-related taxes and would be solely dedicated to road and bridge repairs on state, county, township, city, and small town projects.

The amount of funding attributable to the sales tax on auto repair parts is a very small fraction of the projected general fund budget – about 0.6 percent. The revenue from the sales tax is estimated to be approximately$250-$260 million annually.

Funding our transportation infrastructure is a key job of government, and I think it makes sense to have these tax revenues go toward critically-needed road and bridge repairs.

If it passes the Senate as well, voters will have the opportunity to decide in November.

Other Highlights

As we near the end of session, there are a number of bills passing off the House Floor. I just wanted to highlight a few bills I think are noteworthy:

  • House File 3611 prevents the disarmament of police by local agencies including cities. It passed unanimously, 126-0.
  • House File 1481 enhances the criminal penalties for assaulting firefighters or medical personnel. It also passed unanimously, 125-0.
  • House File 3674 requires Minnesota Management and Budget to include certain information along with any bargaining agreement submitted to the Subcommittee on Employee Relations. This is important to ensure that legislators have all the information needed to make decisions about collective bargaining agreements including how they fit within the state budget and agency contingency plans, should revenue prove insufficient to cover the cost of employee contract increases. The bill passed 74-52.

Around the Community

Cops and Cones

On June 6, attend the Anoka Police Department Cops and Cones event. Stop by and say hi to members of our local police department, and enjoy some ice cream too. The event runs from 5-7 PM at the Dairy Queen on 424 West Main Street. Learn more here.

Jam by the Dam

Come support K-12 music education at the Jam by the Dam event on Saturday, June 2 which includes an all-day outdoor concert in Downtown Anoka with food trucks, beer and more. See the full band lineup and learn more here.

2018 Concerts in the Park

Sunday evenings starting in June, come enjoy some great music with the weekly Concert in the Park. The concerts start at 7 PM in George Green Park in Anoka. See the full schedule and get more details here.

Ramsey Parks and Recreation

There are plenty of fun activities in Ramsey this month! Check out the Ramsey Parks and Recreation event calendar here for more information.

Anoka County Library

The Anoka County Library has a number of events going on every day for families and kids of all ages, including family story time, read to a dog, LEGO building, and more. You can check out the full calendar of events at anokacountylibrary.org.

Senior Volunteering

Are you 55 or over and looking to make a difference in our community? Consider joining Anoka County’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program where they match you with non-profits based on your skills and interests. To find out more about the program and how to enroll, visit anokacounty.us/rsvp.

Anoka Classic Car Show

The 2018 Anoka Classic Car Show begins on May 19, and will take place Saturdays from 5:00 PM through dusk throughout the summer in downtown Anoka. Get all the details here.

***

Please know my office is available should you need assistance on a matter of state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-1729 or via email at rep.abigail.whelan@house.mn. I also welcome your input and ideas on legislation and matters moving through the Minnesota House. I am here to serve you and it is a joy! Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your state representative.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Abigail