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

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Legislative Update from Rep. Abigail Whelan (5.24.18)

Thursday, May 24, 2018

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Giving my retirement speech on the House Floor early Monday morning after the Legislature adjourned. It has been an absolute privilege serving you over the past several years, and I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. I am humbled and grateful for all the advice, input and prayers you have given me, and I know that whoever becomes your next state representative will be incredibly blessed to represent the greatest district in our state.

If you’d like to see my retirement speech, you can click here.

Dear Neighbors,

On Sunday just before midnight, both the House and Senate adjourned, capping off one of the most productive two years in recent memory for our state and citizens. Over the last biennium, bills signed into law include the largest tax cut in nearly two decades, the largest investment in our roads and bridges in state history, major funding increases for education, and reforms to lower health care costs and increase choice for Minnesota families. To build off the successes of 2017, the Legislature passed and sent a compromise tax conformity and education funding bill, a bonding bill, a supplemental bill and a pension bill to the governor's desk for consideration.

First, our tax conformity and education plan was part of a sincere and meaningful effort to find compromise with the governor who expressed he would not sign a critically-needed tax conformity bill without additional funding for schools (he called this emergency funding, though I would disagree with that phraseology). The federal conformity part of the bill simplified Minnesota's tax code, ensured 99.8 percent of filers would be held harmless or see a tax cut next year, and provided the first income tax rate cut in nearly two decades. It also made available more than $225 million to help students—nearly $100 million more than what the governor requested, providing new money and additional flexibility for school districts, including those facing budget shortfalls.

In the supplemental budget bill, legislators again compromised with the governor—nearly 70 percent of the objections raised by the governor were removed or amended, meeting him more than halfway. This legislation contained shared priorities like ensuring safe schools, repairing roads and bridges, tackling the opioid epidemic, protecting aging and vulnerable adults, increasing penalties for distracted driving, and preventing a cut to caregivers of disabled Minnesotans. It also included a provision I authored to reform paternity laws which I have talked about in past email updates.

I am sorry to share, however, that on Wednesday, Governor Dayton vetoed both of these bills. I am hopeful that Governor Dayton will still act positively on the infrastructure-heavy bonding bill we sent him. The majority of funding is dedicated to brick-and-mortar projects such as roads and bridges, water infrastructure and statewide asset preservation, and also includes $32 million for the construction of three new veterans homes in Greater Minnesota.

Local projects in the bonding bill include $2 million for a highway-rail grade separation on Ramsey Boulevard in Ramsey, $15 million for Highway 10 at Thurston Ave, West Main Street, and Fairoak Avenue in Anoka, and $6.55 million for roof improvements and HVAC replacement at the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center. These are all projects worthy of funding, and I am pleased they were included in the bonding bill. Highway 10 especially is in great need of improvements, and I want to thank Anoka County and the cities of Anoka and Ramsey for partnering with the Legislature and working hard to secure various forms of funding to complete needed safety upgrades on the stretch of Highway from Fairoak to Thurston.

Senate File 3367: Preventing Sex Trafficking

One bill I am happy to share Governor Dayton did sign is my legislation to require that all hotel and motel workers undergo training on how to properly identify and report sex trafficking to proper law enforcement officials.

Once again, I want 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, this would not have become law! Thank you!

DWI Bill

One bill that is still awaiting action by the governor is legislation I supported which passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 116-5. SF 2578 criminalizes driving while under the influence of an “intoxicating substance" and closes a loophole in DWI law that came to light following a Minnesota Supreme Court case ruling in October of last year that a driver who drove after "huffing" over-the-counter aerosol spray products containing difluoroethane, or DFE, could not be charged under Minnesota's DWI laws - even though "huffing" these products leads to driver impairment.

I am glad that authors Rep. Keith Franke and Rep. Anna Wills were able to champion this important update to Minnesota's DWI laws.

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 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.

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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