Dear Neighbors,
The first two weeks of the 2014 legislative session have been fast and furious. Since it’s a shorter session than usual, our days are filled with committee and constituent meetings, from sun up to sun down.
To learn more about House District 1A and what to anticipate this session, you can watch an interview I conducted with House Information services:
I will once again be serving on the following committees:
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Environment and Natural Resources Policy
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Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance
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Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy
I’ll be sure to keep you updated on the bills that are discussed during these hearings.
In this update I’ll discuss:
1) State Surplus: Legislators Vote to “Give It Back” to Hardworking Taxpayers
2) Energy Assistance Extension for Seniors and Low-Income Families
3) Town Hall Recap
4) Girls Rock the Capitol
5) Visitors
1) State Surplus: Legislators Vote to “Give It Back” to Hardworking Taxpayers
It was encouraging to see a bright moment of bipartisan cooperation last week when the House voted to give back some of the state’s surplus to the hardworking taxpayers who sent it to us in the first place.
If the Senate cooperates with the House, nearly $500 million will be returned to Minnesotans’ checkbooks. That accounts for the repeal of three new business-to-business taxes and conformity of state income tax codes to federal tax law.
While I’m happy to vote in favor of giving back these funds, I think we could have done more. $500 million is only a quarter of the $2 billion in tax increases that were raised on hardworking taxpayers and small business owners last year.
We currently have a $1.2 billion surplus, showing that Minnesotans are being overtaxed. These funds shouldn’t be relegated to government coffers in order to be spent on the creation or expansion of more government programs. It belongs to the folks who make sacrifices day in and day out.
Easy solutions were at our finger tips. My colleagues offered amendments to extend two income tax conformity provisions. One would have eliminated the “marriage penalty” for 640,000 low- and middle-income earners this year, and the other would have saved money for working moms and dads with children in daycare. Unfortunately, they were defeated by the majority party.
As the legislative session moves forward, I will continue to keep you updated on how legislators propose to use your tax money.
2) Energy Assistance Extension for Seniors and Low-Income Families
Legislators in the House took immediate action on the first day of session to extend heating assistance to families and senior citizens who are struggling to pay their heating bills.
As I’ve discussed in previous updates, the state’s propane shortage and large price increases in the cost of propane, combined with a long, cold winter, led to skyrocketing heating bills that seniors and low income families are unable to afford.
Prior to legislative action, existing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds were expected to run out by next week.
I agree with my colleagues that we need to do what we can to prevent similar problems in the future. Several preventative policy measures were discussed on the House floor, and I look forward to more discussion on other options going forward.
You can watch my speech here:
3) Town Hall Recap
Thank you to everyone who came out for one of my 15 town halls last month.
Some of the big topics of discussion were:
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Promoting a better business climate with lower taxes and regulations
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Needs versus wants in government spending
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The metro versus rural divide
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Transportation funding/taxes should go toward critical road and bridge repair, not metro transit projects, like light rail
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The new gift and death taxes that are negatively affecting several farm families
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Disfavor with the new $90 million Senate office building
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Floor retention projects in the Oslo area
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Skepticism about the “unsession”—folks were not optimistic government would actually get rid of anything without adding extra laws and regulations at the same time
Thief River Falls
Hallock with Kittson County commissioners Leon Olson, Betty Younggren, and Craig Spilde
Lancaster
Viking
Oslo with Danny Omdah, John Nelson, Rolland Miller, and Lon Aune
4) Girls Rock the Capitol
Four high schoolers from the district participated in Girls Rock the Capitol last month. The event aimed at teaching girls about leadership in state government through workshops, a mock election, and a mock committee hearing.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t in St. Paul, as I was holding town halls up north. I did have the chance to catch up with Hannah Anderson in Greenbush. She presented me with a Girls Rock the Capitol t-shirt and told me about her experience. She said she had a great time! (Hannah is the granddaughter of the late Maxine Penas, former state rep for District 1A.)
Congrats to: Hannah Anderson, Greenbush; DyAnna Grondahl, Roseau; Brianne LaDuke, Warroad; and Emma Brunelle, Warroad. And thanks to Kim Hruba and Martie Monsrud for chaperoning.
5) Visitors
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my office so far this year!
Theresia Gillie, Minnesota Soybean Growers
Glen Kajewski (Chairman of the Thief River Falls Regional Airport Authority and TRF City Councilor for Ward 1) and Joe Hedrick (Manager of the TRF Airport)
FFA students
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My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!
Dan
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01A