Hello from the State Capitol,
The work of our legislative conference committees continues at the State Capitol. As you may have heard in various news reports, Governor Dayton changed his parameters and is choosing not to engage this week in the conference committee process. So, the House and Senate continue working and remain ahead of schedule, but we are disappointed the Governor isn't engaged in the process by allowing his commissioners and staff to negotiate with less than a month remaining until the end of session.
With conference committees in full swing, it has given me the opportunity to dig into some specific bills. For example, I was able to sit in on the taxes conference committee this week. In the House, we approved provisions that reduce taxes on Social Security, provide tax credits for student loan payments, provide tax relief for farmers facing school bond referendums, and eliminate an extra tax leveled on Main Street business owners. As a first-year representative, I’m looking forward to this negotiation process and seeing the final product.
This week I was also able to hit a number of local events. First I visited with a number of business owners and residents at the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. I also attended the Cottage Grove Volunteer Banquet at River Oaks Golf Course. As a past recipient of the Cottage Grove Volunteer of the Year award, I was pleased to be on hand to congratulate this year’s winner – Bud Schmidt - and thank him for his dedication to the City!
Representative Keith Franke of St. Paul Park and I also honored local companies Persolvent and Simek’s Thursday on the House floor by presenting them with a resolution honoring their charitable work and involvement in our communities.
In addition, I met with several residents who came in to visit about topics of interest to them. This is always enlightening and I appreciate whenever people take the time to meet with me.
Have a good weekend,
Tony