Dear Neighbors,
Today is the first day of the 2018 legislative session. I’m looking forward to working with my legislative colleagues and residents to strengthen our communities. Below are just a few items the Legislature will be addressing this year:
Tax Conformity
The Trump Tax Bill that passed at the end of last year spends $1.5 trillion that transfers wealth from the middle class to the super rich and corporations. To pay for the massive corporate tax giveaways, many important services, including Medicare are at risk of being cut.
While the majority party is focused on spending on tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy, I’m committed to finding state conformity solutions to the federal law with fellow state House and Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make taxes more fair for everyone; especially working families, seniors and small businesses.
Bonding
Traditionally, public works and infrastructure improvement bills are a big ticket item in even numbered years. People in our community count on our state infrastructure every single day and they expect the Legislature to maintain and protect it, including our roads and bridges, clean water infrastructure, colleges and universities, and state building assets. It’s a big responsibility and one that presents the potential for bipartisan success.
With interest rates still low, it makes perfect sense to make these important investments now. Maintaining what we have is far more financially advantageous to starting over and building new. A robust bonding bill will both protect our infrastructure as well as create an estimated 20,000 jobs or more.
Transportation
I continue my role as the DFL Leader on the Transportation and Regional Governance Policy Committee. In this leadership role, I will be working with colleagues, state departments and stakeholders to address the difficulties with the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS).
Working with our community, we have been a part of over 100 deputy registrars, auto dealers, financial institutions, legislators, and other stakeholders who have worked with state IT staff to develop a comprehensive roadmap to fix MNLARS. Minnesota IT services and the Department of Public Safety have committed to address the system’s shortcomings and strengthen the system for the future. I will work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to help solve this problem.
I’d like to thank the residents of Fridley, New Brighton, and Spring Lake Park for the trust placed in me to represent our district. It’s such a privilege to serve the community where I grew up. I will continue to work to bring people together and be a voice for you. If there is any way I can be of assistance or if you have input on any legislative matter, please give me a call at 651-296-5510 or email me at rep.connie.bernardy@house.mn. If you know of anyone who would like to receive my electronic Capitol updates, please feel free to share this link.
Sincerely,
Connie Bernardy
State Representative, District 41A
Fridley, New Brighton, and Spring Lake Park