Friends and Neighbors,
I am honored to continue to serve our community as your State Representative. I was sworn in on Tuesday and the 2017 Legislative Session has begun. My mother Karen joined me for the ceremonies and to see the newly restored Capitol Building.
They have done a fantastic job with the renovations and restoration of the building and I hope you have the opportunity to visit sometime this session.
Two Tracks for Real ID – House File 3
Real ID will be a large focus for me and our caucus early this session and I am committed to delivering a two track system: one for those who choose to participate in the program and one for those who do not.
As many of you know, without any action this session Minnesotans will be prevented from boarding airplanes in 2018. What my bill, House File 3, does is allows Minnesotans to choose to get a Real ID-compliant license that ensures they can easily board planes, enter federal facilities, or military bases.
My bill also offers a second option for those who wish to opt out of the federally mandated Real ID requirements and keep the same license they have today.
Minnesotans deserve the piece-of-mind knowing they can fly to another state or visit a child on a military base without having to provide an extra piece of identification. The two-track system is a compromise that allows Minnesotans who want to have this option and one for those who do not.
House Republicans Get To Work
Minnesota voters sent a loud and clear signal that they want a new direction from their state government and House Republicans are already delivering on just that by addressing the most urgent matters immediately.
Health Care Relief and Reform
We immediately brought the 2017 Health Care Emergency Aid & Access bill to the floor to give $285 million in health premium relief to those who need it most and $15 million to guarantee continuity of care for Minnesotans facing acute and life-threatening illnesses. This money would come directly from budget reserves. The bill also includes small but meaningful reforms to open access and improve consumer experience.
Democrats chose to block this bill from immediately being considered and thus are delaying aid to those with skyrocketing premiums. This delay will also impact those who would benefit from the continuity of care provisions in the bill.
Tax Relief
The House unanimously passed the Tax Conformity bill that brings our tax laws into conformity with the federal tax laws for 2016. Doing this immediately not only saves taxpayer headaches and hassle, but also delivers $21.7 million in immediate tax relief.
National Night Out Runner Up
Congratulations to those who help make National Night Out in Maple Grove such a success as the city finished second in the country for cities its size. National Night Out is a great program that really brings communities together. Read more about all the hard work that goes into planning it here.
Please Contact Me
Let me know if you are able to stop by the Capitol during session – I would enjoy seeing you. Thank you for your support; it is my honor to represent our community in St. Paul.
Please continue to share your thoughts with me about our state government; bill ideas and concerns are welcomed! My email address is Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, phone number 651-296-5502, and by mail: 375 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a great weekend!
Dennis