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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R)

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Legislative Update from Rep. Andrea Kieffer

Friday, June 7, 2013

Announcements

Woodwinds Hospital, Woodbury: June 20 - 6:30 pm - Join me and other neighbors to learn more about CPS-3 Cancer Study Participation.

Right now you have a unique opportunity to fight back against cancer by enrolling in the American Cancer Society’s new research study called the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). By joining CPS-3, you can help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer, which ultimately saves lives. You can learn more about the study at www.cancer.org/cps3 and schedule your appointment here: CPS3TwinCities.org.

My Thoughts on the Legislative Session

Thanks to greater than expected economic growth and efficient government spending put in place during my first term in 2011, this year’s budget forecast shows a deficit of around $600 million. Not my idea of wonderful, but remember, at the beginning of 2011, that number was predicted to be around $5 billion. I would still like to see our government focus on debt reduction moving forward.

It is also no surprise that I voted against the DFL majority’s tax increases. These are simply not necessary. There is enough money in the government coffers right now to fund the priorities that our citizens expect. This tax increase targets higher income individuals, tobacco users, and most upsetting: businesses. In fact, we now face the largest tax increase our state has had in three decades! I am concerned these new taxes could drive investment out of Minnesota, slow down job growth, increase unemployment, and inflate prices.

Most of my work this session focused on trying to stop some bad policy proposals. Forced unionization of childcare and personal care attendants (PCA) is only one example of the union-driven policy bills that were heard in the Labor Committee. On the House floor, even the DFL members were so opposed to this, that the bill passed by just one vote! Simply put, it will infringe on the individual freedom of these small businesses owners. I have been fighting this issue for 3 years, wrote an op-ed in the Pioneer Press last year about it, and have constantly voiced my strong opposition. To make matters worse, the DFL rolled this union proposal in with the PCA recipients. I am still not sure how the union will handle negotiations pitting family members against each other. You can see my short interview with Fox 9 following the vote here.

There were other union bills that passed this session without my support: Peace Labor requirements, lock-out mandates for unemployment insurance, and the reinstatement of the statewide school levy will give more power to Education MN (the state teachers' union) and less power to our local school boards.

My work on the Select Committee for Living Wages also kept me busy. Working with the restaurant owners who fear that without a proper accounting mechanism in place for tipped employees, their service industry will suffer and jobs will be lost.

I remain an appointee on the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council. A major reform bill was passed with the support of both the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce. The bill will reduce costs to small businesses and get injured workers the care they need promptly. I take this position of legislative liaison very seriously as the topic of workers comp is extremely complicated. More legislators need to understand how the rising cost of health care is being shifted to small business owners.

As a member of the Public Safety Committee, I supported the final omnibus bill that fulfills our obligation to fund various public safety departments and our courts system. I will continue my work with MNCASA on enhanced penalties for repeat 5th degree sex offenders. I was honored with the AWARE award this year because of this bill.

One final "victory" I will claim is that my bill to reduce the number of people one can "vouch for" on election day has been reduced from 15 to 8. This idea stemmed from a library listening session discussion a few years back, so your input DOES matter!

As always, I am honored to serve you in St. Paul.

Respectfully,

Rep. Andrea Kieffer, Woodbury

651-296-1147

Rep.Andrea.Kieffer@house.mn