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Hello, friends! It’s a new week, and I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on some of the recent activities here at the Minnesota State Capitol.
The 2020 Bonding Bill
The construction of this year’s bonding bill will be a major priority for the Minnesota House of Representatives during the 2020 legislative session. During even-numbered years, the State Legislature compiles different public works projects and puts them in one, massive bill. These are projects which will be funded through the issuance of state bonds, otherwise known as borrowing against the state’s credit card. Often times, legislators write bonding bills to improve critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and sewer systems. For example, I have one bonding bill to reconstruct Jefferson Drive in Zumbrota, MN.
With the Democrats in control of the Minnesota House, and with a Democratic Governor, I expect that this year’s bonding bill will be bloated, wasteful, and irresponsible. As a matter of fact, many of the projects that have been proposed are not essential infrastructure projects. For example, Democrat Governor Tim Walz has recommended bonding over $8 million for the restoration of an opera house. Additionally, the Governor has proposed bonding $10 million to expand an already existing arts center in Bloomington, MN. Furthermore, he includes two separate snow-making facility projects in his proposal.
Such projects represent a misuse of Minnesota’s financial system. Instead of limiting bonding to critical infrastructure projects, the Democrats are using the state to fund every pet project they can find.
As such, I believe the 2020 bonding bill will be an unconscionable overreach of government. If the bonding bill continues on the path the Democrats have laid out, I will be voting “NO.”
Bill Introduction
On Thursday, February 20th, I introduced HF 3619. This bill would allow individuals to subtract their Social Security benefits from their reported income when they file their individual income taxes.
Currently, Minnesota is one of only thirteen states which taxes the Social Security benefits received by seniors. This is plain wrong. Minnesota should not dip into the benefits you have earned during a lifetime of work.
Lowering Minnesota’s huge collection of oppressive taxes is very important to me, and I will continue the fight to make sure that Minnesotans keep the money they make.
Contact:
If you visit the Capitol in St. Paul, please drop by and say hello! If you know a date you will be in town, please call or email my Legislative Assistant, Luke, and he will get you on the calendar. His number is 651-296-9183 or Luke.Sprinkel@house.mn
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