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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Regina Barr (R)

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RELEASE: Rep. Barr Statement on Minnesota House Adjourning for the 2018 Session

Monday, May 21, 2018

ST. PAUL, MN—House Republicans concluded the 2018 session on Sunday, passing a compromise tax conformity and education funding bill, a bonding bill, and a pension bill to the Governor's desk for consideration. Earlier Sunday, the House passed the supplemental budget bill to the governor's desk.

"The Legislature just completed one of the most productive two years in recent history and I am so proud I could be part of delivering tax relief, lower health care costs, an increase in education funding, and record-setting investments in road and bridge infrastructure," said Rep. Regina Barr, R- Inver Grove Heights. "The work we did this session reflects the priorities of all Minnesotans. From making key investments in education, school safety, and delivering tax relief to Minnesotans, it was truly a session where real efforts were made by everyone to put forward a compromise that works for all Minnesotans. I believe the governor will do what is right and sign these bills into law in the coming days."

The tax conformity and education plan were part of a compromise effort between legislative Republicans and Governor Dayton. The federal conformity plan protects taxpayers, simplifies Minnesota's tax code, and provides the first income tax rate cut in nearly 20 years. It also makes available more than $225 million to help students—nearly $100 million more than what the governor requested, provides new money and additional flexibility for school districts to address budget shortfalls.

In the supplemental budget bill, House and Senate Republicans compromised with the governor—more than 60 percent of the objections raised by the governor were removed or amended, meeting him more than halfway. The bill contains shared priorities like ensuring safe schools, repairing roads and bridges, tackling the opioid epidemic, protecting aging and vulnerable adults, and preventing a cut to caregivers of disabled Minnesotans.

A top priority for House Republicans this year was improved school safety and student mental health. The bonding bill passed Sunday night brings the total school safety investment to more than $50 million—double the amount proposed by Governor Dayton.

House Republicans also advanced an infrastructure-heavy, geographically balanced capital investment package featuring $825 million in general obligation bonding to fund construction projects throughout the state. The majority of funding is dedicated to bricks-and-mortar projects, such as roads and bridges, water infrastructure and statewide asset preservation. In addition, the bonding bill includes $32 million for the construction of new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston, as well as $10 million for the renovation of existing homes.

“House Republicans have worked hard all session long to address the priorities of Minnesota families, and that work is reflected in the bills we put on the governor's desk” added Majority Leader Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers. “We successfully addressed countless concerns and objections raised by the governor, and know that this represents a good-faith effort to send him bills that can earn his signature.”

The bills sent to the governor build on the tremendously successful accomplishments from the 2017 session that included the largest tax cut in nearly two decades, the largest investment in roads and bridges in state history without a gas tax increase, major funding boosts for education, and reforms to lower health care costs and boost health care choices for Minnesota families.

The compromise proposals await action by Governor Dayton in the coming days.

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