Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol.
Governor Releases Supplemental Budget
Earlier this week, Governor Dayton released his supplemental budget, and I am disappointed to report that it includes $581 million in new “supplemental” spending and a substantial gas tax increase. The governor has been touting a $117 million in tax relief, but he is also proposing to raise more than $900 million per year in new gas taxes when our state has a $900 million surplus. It’s very disappointing that higher taxes are being pushed on Minnesota families. However, this type of tax, I don’t have to tell you, hits families in Chisago County the hardest because so many of us commute to and from the Twin Cities each day.
Continuing to prioritize bigger government over Minnesota families is a poor approach. My colleagues and I will continue to work toward substantial middle class tax relief and a road and bridge bill that does not raise the gas tax. Solutions exist by capturing existing car related taxes (currently being diverted) and using these to supplement existing automobile related taxes, in addition to eliminating the current diversion of gas tax revenue that is currently being used on light rail projects and the failing Northstar commuter rail. I am the chief author of HF2508, a bill that requires transit operations to be more productive thus reducing the subsidies that you and I pay.
Prescription Drug Disposal Legislation
Earlier this week, my legislation to help pharmacies safely get rid of unused or expired prescription and controlled substances was passed out of the Health and Human Services Policy Committee.
As many people know, the issue of prescription drug abuse is a very serious one both nationally and in Minnesota. I am hopeful that my legislation will allow more people dispose of unneeded pharmaceuticals through their local pharmacy to keep these dangerous drugs out of the hands of people who would sell them illegally for profit, preying on others who use and abuse them.
Steelworkers and Unemployment Insurance Legislation
On Thursday, the Minnesota House passed legislation to provide relief to steelworkers and give a boost to businesses around the state so they can reinvest and hire more people in our community and across Minnesota.
The bill, which has no General Fund impact, will extend unemployment benefits to out-of-work Iron Range employees for an additional 26 weeks. In addition, the bill provides a credit to businesses that currently pay into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Because this fund has a substantial surplus of hundreds of millions of dollars, right-sizing the oversized $1.5 billion fund and giving some the surplus back to the businesses that paid into it is the right thing to do.
Recently, Governor Dayton blocked the Twin Metals mining operation which could have produced up to 850 iron-range jobs in an area of the state that, as evidenced by the increase in unemployment benefits recently passed by the house, desperately needs these jobs. Twin Metals had planned to spend $2.8 billion dollars to construct the mine.
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Many thanks go out to you for the honor of representing Chisago County in the Minnesota House. It’s a privilege to be your state representative.
Sincerely,
Bob