Dear neighbors,
This week marks the beginning of the 2014 Legislative Session. I’m looking forward to working with you to build on the progress we made in 2013.
As we kick off this year’s Session, we have reason to be optimistic about the direction our state is heading. Minnesota added over 45,000 jobs last year, lowering our unemployment rate to 4.6 percent – one of the lowest rates in the country. Thanks to our outstanding businesses and talented workforce, our state faces a projected budget surplus of over $800 million.
This is the first time our state has been in such good financial health in years, and it gives us a needed opportunity to stay focused on helping families and businesses who have not yet felt the economic recovery. I’d like to let you know about a few session priorities for this year:
Middle Class Tax Relief
Starting with Tax Committee hearings this week, we plan to cut taxes for middle class Minnesotans by enacting federal tax conformity, which would make our state tax code simpler. A part of that is boosting Minnesota's Working Family Tax Credit this year, which supports lower income working families and makes the tax system fairer. I am the chief author of a bill to do this and will advocate for its inclusion in this session’s omnibus tax bill. This income tax credit is based on a family's earnings and their family size. It is tied to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which has documented success in supporting work, reducing poverty, and improving the health and educational success of children.
Minimum Wage Increase
Raising the minimum wage to help low wage workers in our community provide for themselves and their families is a critical goal for this session. Right now, we have the third lowest wage in the entire country. Increasing the minimum wage will give hardworking Minnesotans more economic security and stability that they need and deserve.
Bonding Bill
We will need to work together this session to pass a strategic and bipartisan bonding bill. With a three-fifths “super-majority" vote needed to pass capital investment legislation, both DFLers and Republicans will need to team up to approve a final bill. Putting aside our partisan differences to create good jobs while repairing and improving state assets like roads, bridges, and facilities at our public colleges and universities is not only smart economic policy, it’s simply the right thing to do.
Women’s Economic Security Act
We have a real opportunity address the disproportionate barriers to economic security facing women in Minnesota this session. Women in our state on average earn only 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. In addition, passing the Women’s Economic Security Act will ensure women have an equal opportunity to succeed. I’ve always prioritized closing the gender pay gap, expanding paid sick leave, increasing access to high-quality and affordable childcare, and helping women-owned small businesses grow and thrive.
Transportation
I have some optimism that there will be movement this year on our state's increasing transportation needs. There is a strong coalition of business, environment, and labor organizations that are organizing for more funding to repair and modernize or multi-modal transportation network. Transportation investments for our city and our state are important if we want to continue to be regional leaders and competitive in a 21st century global economy.
Upcoming Town Hall
I will be joining Sen. Torres Ray for a town hall at Peace Coffee on the evening of Monday, March 10th, from 7:00-8:30pm. It is the Peace Coffee Shop located on 3262 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis 55406. Everyone is welcome to join us for the town hall.
What: Town hall meeting with Rep. Jim Davnie and Sen. Patricia Torres Ray
When: Monday, March 10th from 7:00-8:30pm
Where: Peace Coffee Shop, 3262 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
I’m always available to answer any questions, comments or other feedback. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-0173 or by email at rep.jim.davnie@house.mn
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
State Representative –District 63A