Budget Targets, Childcare Unionization, Electric Rates, and more

Dear Neighbors,

I’ll be back in the district all this week for Easter Break. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to set up a meeting!

1. Local County Authorities Testify on Ditch Tax Bill
2. House DFL Majority Releases Budget Targets
3. Childcare Unionization Bill on Fast Track
4. Renewable Energy Bill would Raise Electric Rates
5. Fabian Interviewed on “Almanac” about Wolf Hunting
6. Visitors

Ditch Taxes

Thank you to local county officials for joining me once again to testify on my bill that would require the DNR to pay their fair share in ditch taxes. The bill was laid over in the House for possible inclusion in a larger environment finance bill.

If you remember from my update last week, the DNR’s negligence on paying ditch taxes on state land is causing property taxes to go up for private landowners. We simply want the DNR to be a good neighbor, as they’ve stated they want to be.

Unfortunately, the DNR stepped in and interfered with the bill hearing in the Senate (this is called a “companion bill” to my House bill). The chair of Senate committee would not give it an official hearing, but did allow our county officials the opportunity to provide an informational overview of the situation.

Click the video below to watch my opening statements in committee:

House DFL Releases Budget Targets

As is custom in the Legislature, majorities in both the House and Senate release budget targets alongside the Governor’s proposal.

Here are the details from House Dems:

• Increase taxes by at least $2.4 billion (This figure does not include fees, surcharges, and raids on other funds. For instance, the DNR alone is requesting about $5 million more in fees.)
• Increase government spending by billions.

Some of the tax proposals that are being considered include: alcohol tax (up 350%), gas tax (up 10 cents/gallon), wheelage tax (up $15), mortgage and deed tax, estate tax, snack tax (on nuts, seeds, popcorn, pretzels, chips, cookies, ice cream novelties), license plate tab fees (up $10), and more.

All of these tax proposals are particularly concerning because they will hit the pocketbooks of middle class Minnesotans and small business owners.

This budget proposal falls in stark contrast to the plan the House GOP proposed two years ago that slowed government spending and let the private economy thrive, all without raising taxes.

Childcare Unionization

A bill to unionize privately-owned and -operated childcare businesses is flying through the Legislature at break neck speed.

This is a huge issue for our area. In simple terms: If you provide in-home daycare services and some (or all) of your customers pay with state-subsidized child care assistance, you will be required to join a union (AFSCME) and pay union dues.

Long lines of testifiers have spoken against the bill, because they are afraid that an automatic deduction of union dues from their subsidies will either force them to quit taking child care assistance clients, or close altogether. Plus, they are private, independent business owners who do not want the state coming between the relationship they have with the families they serve.

You can watch their testimony by clicking here, or click here for a helpful graphic about this issue.

Renewable Energy Bill to Raise Electric Rates

Lost among all the tax increase proposals being debated at the Minnesota House is a comprehensive renewable energy proposal that would force ALL Minnesotans to receive higher electric bills.

The bill would require the renewable energy mandate to be expanded to 40 percent by 2030, and require that a certain percentage of all energy in Minnesota be produced by solar sources.

House File 956 would be particularly harmful to our area because it will devastate rural electric co-ops since they don’t have the customer density needed to withstand the financial hit.

Forcing power providers to invest in expensive and unnecessary energy sources will, as a consequence, force every Minnesotan to pay much more for their electricity, as the co-ops will have to pass the added expense down to their customers through higher rates.

Wolf Hunting

As I’ve mentioned in earlier updates, Twin Cities Democrat senators are proposing a five year ban on the wolf hunting and trapping season we established last year.

Twin Cities Public Television’s “Almanac at the Capitol” covered both sides of the issue, and I was pleased to be part of the discussion.

Click here to locate the video, and click on “Hunting Wolves” on the right hand side.

Visitors

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my office last week!

Minnesota Wheat Growers: Tim Osowski (Argyle), Jon and Kim Knudson (Warroad), Dan Fabian, and Blair and Deb Hoseth (Mahnomen).

Julian Brzoznowski, Ann Ellis, Mike Hanson from North Star Electric.

Roseau County Commissioner Glenda Phillipe from Warroad (center) and her daughter.

Please let me know if you are ever in St. Paul. I would love to meet with you at my office. Or, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have related to state government. I am here to serve you!

Dan

**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01A