The 2014 Legislative Session is underway, offering new opportunities to build on the progress Minnesota made over the past year. It is an honor to be back at our state capitol working on your behalf.
Lawmakers in the Minnesota House of Representatives got off to a fast start on our first day by unanimously approving $20 million in additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
I am pleased DFLers and Republicans took swift action to help Minnesotans impacted by the ongoing propane crisis. The additional funding means the LIHEAP program will not run out of money this year, ensuring financial assistance for those who need it most.
On Friday, we received an updated budget forecast showing a $1.2 billion surplus.
I support using some of those dollars to cut taxes for middle class Minnesotans by enacting federal tax conformity, which would make our state tax code simpler and get rid of unnecessary burdens like the so-called “marriage penalty.”
According to the nonpartisan House Research Department, eliminating the “marriage penalty” would reduce taxes by an average of $115 per year on 650,000 tax returns, giving Minnesotans more money to buy necessities like gas, groceries, and other goods from local businesses.
I also support repealing three new business-to-business taxes, such as the new tax on farm equipment repairs. The surplus allows us to pay for these tax reductions and maintain a structurally balanced budget into the future.
In addition to cutting taxes for middle class Minnesotans and businesses, I am focused on creating good jobs and reducing income inequality.
Passing a strong bipartisan bonding bill will put people back to work while repairing and improving roads, bridges, and buildings at our public colleges and universities. Governor Dayton released a list of his bonding priorities several weeks ago, but now the House and Senate will craft our own proposals and work out any differences before sending a final package back to the Governor to be signed into law.
Lawmakers from both chambers are poised to reach an agreement on increasing Minnesota’s minimum wage. Last year, I joined my House colleagues in approving an increase to $9.50/hour by 2015 for large employers and $8.50/hour for small employers while tying future increases to the rate of inflation starting in 2016. I am hopeful we will pass a final bill close to that amount.
Minnesota’s last minimum wage increase, which occurred under Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, happened nearly a decade ago. During that time, wages did not keep up with the cost of living. Increasing the minimum wage will give hardworking Minnesotans more economic security and stability that they need and deserve. It also means consumers will have more money to spend at local businesses, restaurants, and tourism attractions, generating additional benefits for our economy overall.
Please stay in touch during this year’s Legislative Session by sharing your questions, concerns, or any other feedback. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-0171, by email at rep.david.bly@house.mn, or by postal mail at 559 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.