Hello everyone, I trust you are all doing well. I want to touch on a few quick points about what is going on in the Minnesota State House.
Jobs, Commerce and Housing Omnibus Bill:
This week, we heard the Jobs, Commerce, and Housing Omnibus bill, which will cost us $436.4 million -- $104 million more than forecasted.
It's also loaded with new fees. Some of these fees include:
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Insurance Agent Appointments Fees: $4.9 million/year
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Combative Sports Adjustment: $44,000/year
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Plumbing Inspection Fee Restructuring: $366,000/year
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Elevator Inspection Fee Adjustment: $254,000/ year
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Accountancy Fees: $237,000/year
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Cosmetologist Penalties: $700,000/year
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Barber Fees: $31,000/year
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Weights & Measures "Temporary" Fee increase: $330,000
Please note, the last "Temporary Fee" we had was in 1991. It was a 1/2 cent sales tax increase. This "Temporary Fee" brings in $350 million dollar each year.
Small taxes add up fast and really do take a bite out of our family budgets. I had the privilege to vote against all of these increases!
Some other items of interest were:
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The wolf hunt moratorium was withdrawn and will not be enacted.
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I also had the privilege to vote in favor of making state legislators pay for their health insurance premiums!
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A pay raise for legislators is working its way through the state government. I cannot wait to vote NO!
Big Government is not sustainable!
Thank you for giving me the privilege to represent you in St. Paul and to stand up for YOU the hard working, tax paying citizen of Minnesota!
God's peace,
Jim