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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Paul Anderson (R)

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REP. ANDERSON BACK AT CAPITOL FOR NEW SESSION

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

 

ST. PAUL – State Rep. Paul Anderson joined 133 other Minnesota House members in returning to the Capitol to launch the 2014 legislative session Tuesday.

 

One of the first things the House did upon convening was to bipartisanly pass $20 million in additional heating assistance to help ease the pain of an ongoing propane supply shortage.

 

“This is a serious issue, so I am pleased we were able to provide some relief right away this session,” said Anderson, who is authoring legislation to increase propane storage capacity in our state to mitigate future supply shortages. “It appears propane prices are coming down but, with the cold weather continuing, we are not out of the woods just yet.”

 

This is not a budget year in the Legislature – that happens in odd-numbered years – but Anderson said the House still faces many important issues this year. One of the top items he said will be up for discussion this year is a capital investment bonding bill to pay for projects all across the state. Gov. Mark Dayton recently recommended a bill of around $1 billion, a price tag Anderson said appears too steep to pass with a required super majority.

 

“It is important to maintain our infrastructure, but we already passed a bonding bill of $176 million last year,” Anderson said. “We will have to identify some less-important projects that could be cut in order to bring down the size of that bill.”

 

A minimum-wage increase, Sunday liquor sales, prescription marijuana, final approval for a $90 million Senate office building and parking ramp, anti-bullying legislation and improvements for the struggling MNsure health insurance program also are creating conversations in St. Paul.

 

“One of our priorities this session should be to repeal new taxes on equipment repair, warehousing and telecommunications,” Anderson said. “They all have gained bipartisan support for repeal since passed into law last year. Those new taxes are unnecessary and are just adding to the heavy burdens Minnesota taxpayers already face.”

 

Anderson continues serving four House committees in 2014: agriculture policy; environment, natural resources and agriculture finance; housing finance and policy; and the select committee on veterans housing.

 

His legislative website (www.house.mn/12b) contains additional information. Anderson can be reached by emailing rep.paul.anderson@house.mn or by calling (651) 296-4317.

 

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