Dear Neighbors,
Today, on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day, we are reminded of the precious rights that make the United States such a wonderful place to live, and honor the trials and tribulations Dr. King and others went through to ensure that those rights were extended to all. I wish you time for reflection today, and thank you for your civic engagement which safeguards those rights.
The legislative session is in full swing, and the House passed legislation Friday to bring more federal tax conformity to Minnesota, which will offer more tax breaks for filers.
Transportation is going to be a big issue at the Capitol, as our roads and bridges are in serious need of repair. With the emphasis by the House majority on Greater Minnesota this session, I am concerned that we are not going to get all of the work done in our suburban areas to alleviate congestion. I am the chief author of legislation to bond for the state's share of the SouthWest Light Rail, which the TwinWest and Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce strongly support. I will also continue reach across the aisle to collaborate on ways to ease our traffic congestion, as I did last session when I successfully co-authored legislation which expanded 494 in both directions as it goes through Plymouth.
Education will another area of focus this year, with legislators looking to make investments in early childhood, K-12, post-secondary tuition relief, and workforce readiness programs. I am in the process of meeting with parents, community members, and our locally elected school board officials, superintendents, and administrative staff to determine our local priorities for this legislative session.
The House and Senate majorities are also looking to build on the good work we did over the last two years in workforce development. You may recall that we passed the Women's Economic Security Act, and I had a bill in the act which is allowing women entrepreneurs to start and expand in high revenue businesses that are traditionally dominated by men. As our unemployment rate has dipped below 4%, we need to continue the work to ensure that our young students and our mid-career workers have the skills they need to fill the good paying jobs available.
Finally I would like to close with some information on locating "lost" money. The State of Minnesota is holding over $606 million in unclaimed property. There are tens of thousands of Minnesotans who have assets and property that has been turned over to the State because the bank, insurance company, or employer could not find the owner. To see if you or a family member has unclaimed property being held by the State, go to the MN Department of Commerce's website here: http://mn.gov/commerce/topics/Unclaimed-Property.
Please stay in touch throughout the legislative session. We had a wonderful turn-out and conversation during my January 10 town hall meeting. I welcome your questions, thoughts and concerns. As always, thank you for the honor of being your voice in St. Paul.
Best,
Yvonne