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Legislative Update (April 24, 2015)

Friday, April 24, 2015

Friends and neighbors,

Today is National Tax Freedom Day, the day when the average citizen has earned enough money to pay its tax burden for the year. Unfortunately, Minnesota's Tax Freedom Day isn't until April 30th – nearly a week later than the nation. As the date for our Tax Freedom Day continues to be delayed each year, it is a good reminder of the heavy tax burden Minnesota families and businesses face.

Tax Relief for Minnesota Businesses

On Wednesday night, two of my proposals to lower the tax burden on our Minnesota business owners were passed as a part of the Job Growth and Energy Affordability omnibus bill. HF1416 reduces the unemployment insurance employer tax rate, and HF2073 creates a 0.8% cap on the Workforce Development Fund unemployment insurance tax. In total, these two proposals account for over $600 million in tax cuts for all Minnesota businesses, large and small! I’m proud of my proposal, and thankful to my colleagues for their support.



Legislative Activity Increases

As we near the end of session, we are spending many late nights at the Capitol discussing our budget bills. On Tuesday night, we passed the Transportation omnibus bill, which provides some funding and reallocation of tax dollars towards our $7 billion, ten-year transportation plan I have discussed in previous updates. We will be hearing our Tax, Environment and Natural Resources, Education, and Health and Human Services omnibus bills today and throughout next week, among other omnibus and stand-alone bills.

We have also wrapped up our meetings for the Subcommittee on Claims, where I had the opportunity to discuss and decide on cases brought against the state. I enjoyed serving on this committee with my fellow committee members, and having the opportunity to use my legal background to be a mediator for claims submitted by Minnesotans.

In Our Community

On Monday night, I met with a group of doctors in Maple Grove to discuss our Health and Human Services omnibus bills and share the future of healthcare in our state. As we continue to debate omnibus bills on the House floor, I’m looking forward to sharing more information with you about the Republican budget for the next biennium. Stay tuned to Facebook and Twitter for updates, and share my legislative updates with your neighbors so they may sign up and stay informed.

Please remember to get in touch to arrange a time to meet with me in my office to discuss the issues that matter most to you. Maple Grove constituent Phil McGregor stopped by this week, and we had a great discussion. Thanks, Phil!



You can reach me via phone at (651) 296-5502, or via email at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn.

It is an honor to serve you,

Rep. Dennis Smith