Friends,
The 2018 Session wrapped up this weekend with us sending a number of compromise bills to Governor Dayton's desk. It concluded what has been an incredibly productive first two years in the legislature for me and my goal to make Minnesota a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Thank you for giving me the honor of representing our community in St. Paul.
I hope you are able to spend some time with your family and friends this Memorial Day weekend. Keep in mind the heroes who lost their lives fighting for our freedoms.
Rep. Barr stepped outside the House Chambers last night for a bit of fresh air and to take in the beautiful loggia.
Session Wrapped Up
On Sunday, House Republicans concluded the 2018 session, 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, we 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, lowering health care costs, increasing education funding, and making record-setting investments in road and bridge infrastructure. 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 the legislature and Governor Dayton. The 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 – and provides new money and additional flexibility for school districts to address budget shortfalls.
In the supplemental budget bill, we 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 me 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.
We 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.
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.
In Case You Missed It: Tour around 52B!
Late last summer, we put together a video that highlights some of the great and beautiful parts of District 52B, which encompasses Inver Grove Heights, Sunfish Lake, parts of Mendota Heights and Eagan. I think it turned out very well and am proud to represent such a fantastic place to live. Check out the video here!
On this day in History
On this day in 1934, notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde are shot to death by Texas and Louisiana state police while driving a stolen car near Sailes, Louisiana.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office anytime by calling me at 651-296-4192, or share your thoughts by emailing me at rep.regina.barr@house.mn.
Have a great week!
Regina