Dear Neighbors,
The 2018 legislative session ended on Sunday evening, marking the end of my last session as your representative. I have really enjoyed serving you and our community the last six years and appreciate the trust you have placed in me to represent you in St. Paul. I am looking forward to spending more time with my wife, family, and grandchildren. Thank you.
The legislature passed a number bills over the course of the final weekend including a tax/education bill, supplemental finance bill, bonding bill, and pension bill. Each of these bills represented a compromise position with the governor and Senate.
Unfortunately, Governor Dayton vetoed both the tax/education and supplemental finance bills for reasons unknown to many. Millions of Minnesotans will now suffer the consequences of the governor’s vetoes.
For instance, nearly 1 million Minnesotans will see their taxes go up due to the governor’s actions. Additionally, since the state will no longer be conforming to the federal tax code, every single Minnesotan that files taxes next year will face an extremely complicated and burdensome process.
Along with this, schools would have received up to $225 million in additional funding to help deal with budget shortfalls that the governor had declared an “emergency” in the final weeks of session. Instead, these schools will be receiving $0.
I am also disappointed to report that compromise language I worked on that would have increased the penalties for distracted driving was vetoed as part of this bill.
To say I am disappointed would be an understatement.
I’m not sure where we go from here, but with session adjourned for the year it looks like we’ll have to wait until next January to address these issues.
Until then, please be sure to reach out and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-5513 or via email at rep.mark.uglem@house.mn.
Thanks and have a great weekend,
Mark