Dear Neighbor,
The 2016 legislative session is now in the books but, before I get to that, I want to wish you a good Memorial Day weekend as we honor our nation's fallen soldiers. Please be safe if you are traveling and/or if you are out on the water this weekend.
A top accomplishment from the recently concluded session is tax relief to the tune of $801 million over the next three years. This is a step in the right direction after Democrats rammed a historic tax increase into place just a few years ago when they had one-party control in St. Paul. Provisions House Republicans led to passage this year will benefit working families with young children, small businesses, veterans, college graduates, farmers and more. Key tax relief includes (totals are for the next three years):
Minnesota has a $900 million surplus because taxpayers have been overcharged. It is good to see we did the right thing by returning money to those people. This bill is still in the hands of the governor for enactment and I urge him to sign it soon.
There also are some loose ends from the session regarding a bonding/transportation bill the House passed with wide, bipartisan support Sunday night, only to have it stalled by Senate Democrats' last-minute maneuvering. Just as the midnight Sunday legislative deadline approached – and just after the House adjourned – Senate Democrats changed the bill by adding a light-rail train provision. That meant the bill could not receive final approval in the Legislature and now the governor would have to call a special session for that package to be re-examined.
As of now, it is unknown when the governor will make an announcement on that. I'll pass along more on that as details surface.
Have a good weekend,
Tom