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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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Legislative Update - January 11, 2019

Friday, January 11, 2019

Greetings from the Floor,
 
The 91st Legislature began on Tuesday with the swearing in of the House of Representatives.  We spent the week getting settled into our new offices, meeting our Legislative Assistants and getting to know the new members.  It’s good to be back in St. Paul connecting with other legislators, and starting conversations about bills. 
 
There are many changes in the House this year including a DFL majority, and close to 1/3 of the members being first-term members.  Also, with the GOP still in the majority in the Senate, Minnesota is the only state in the union with a divided Legislature.  We will have to work together and compromise for results.
 
My committee assignments this term are Taxes, Higher Education, Greater Minnesota Economic Development and the Local Government Subcommittee.  This is the first term I will serve on the Tax Committee, and I’m excited to dig into the issues.  We have a lot of work cut out for us with federal tax conformity not getting resolved last biennium.  I’m proud to continue serving on the Higher Education Committee, and look forward to connecting higher education and the workforce through the Great Minnesota Economic Development Committee.  I expect the Local Government Subcommittee will largely focus on the Metropolitan Council (which is a system of shared governance among the seven metropolitan counties). 
 
The new House majority rolled out the first ten bills of the session on Wednesday.  They focus on education, health care, broadband development and gun violence prevention.  To read more about these bills, please go to: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/Story/13455.
 
The week concluded with a mandatory training on harassment, discrimination and implicit bias for House members.  We had these trainings last year at the beginning of session in the wake two legislative resignations because of sexual harassment at the Capitol.  It’s good for members to think and talk about these issues as we hold public positions, and must relate to relate people in a higher manner of respect and understanding. 
 
I anticipate the big issues we tackle this year will be taxes, health care, education and workforce development.  Committee meetings will begin next week, and the budget bills will start coming together after the February budget forecast comes out.  Please continue to reach out at any time with your questions and concerns.  I always appreciate hearing from folks in our district.
 
Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,
Ben