Greetings from the Floor,
The first committee hearings of the legislative session took place this week, and focused on overviews from the different state agencies. In the Higher Education Committee we heard from the University of Minnesota (with brief introductions from the Board of Regents candidates), the Minnesota State system and the Office of Higher Education. In the Tax Committee we heard from non-partisan House research about state taxes (the different kinds of state taxes, the amount of money each tax generates and how the burden of each tax falls on different parts of the state’s population – who pays the taxes by income group). It’s interesting to note that the effective tax rates are higher for lower income people, but higher income earning individuals tend to pay more of the money that each tax generates.
I introduced one bill this week. HF177 would appropriate $8.5 million in General Obligation bonds to Clay County for a new solid waste transfer station. As our county grows and infrastructure ages, this is a necessary project. It would also open the opportunity for a public-private partnership for more efficient and environmentally sound waste management. This would result in less material ending up in our landfill. I’ve also started work on bills regarding Driver and Vehicle Service tax and fee exemptions for disabled veterans, background checks for parents who are guardians for their adult children and reimbursement parity for non-profit nursing homes in Moorhead.
Our local Farm Service Agency office will be open today and on Tuesday next week (01/22) for limited hours despite the federal government shutdown. The office is located at 1615 30th Ave S Moorhead, and the office phone number is (218) 233-7773.
As part of the Minnesota Humanities Center’s ongoing project Minnesota Remembers Vietnam, MSUM is hosting some upcoming events. A concert version of Hair will take place on February 7 at the Hansen Theatre, the authors Bao Thi and Thi Bui will present their work through a conversation entitled “Unpacking the Vietnamese Refugee Experience” on April 8 at the Gaede Stage, and a National Archives Exhibition entitled “Picturing Nam” will run from April 17 through May 25 at the Art Gallery. For more information about all of these events, please go to: https://www.mnstate.edu/minnesota-remembers/.
Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,
Ben