Dear Neighbor,
Thank you to all the folks who attended town hall meetings I co-hosted with Sen. Torrey Westrom in Sauk Centre, Glenwood, Melrose, Freeport and Albany last weekend. We found the discussions productive and appreciate the helpful input we received.
Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed budget was a consistent topic of conversation. People who expressed strong concern for the taxes the governor included in his initial plan will be pleased to hear he this week officially backed off at least some of those tax increases. He cut his plan to expand sales taxes to include services like haircuts and oil changes, and also eliminated a business-to-business sales tax which received heavy criticism.
Dayton’s revised budget still includes a spending increase of $2.7 billion over 2012-13. He proposes raising taxes by $1.8 billion. Tax increases the governor retained in his new plan include: $1.1 billion on the top 2 percent of earners, $30 million on snowbirds, $317 million on cigarettes, and a metro transit sales tax plan (which may increase from .25 to .5).
The governor still would not pay back delayed school funding and even withdrew his initial budget’s proposal of repaying it in 2016-17.
DAY CARE UNIONS
Town hall meeting attendees also consistently indicated they are against an effort to unionize day care providers. A bill to unionize an estimated 9,000 day care providers passed the House Early Childhood Committee last week, despite significant opposition.
In addition, the Health and Human Services Policy Committee heard a bill to allow elections that could unionize an estimated 12,000 people who work as personal care attendants. Both plans are raising significant concerns about cost increases and more.
There is virtually no demand from child care providers to form a union. In fact, the vast majority of them oppose unionization since it would increase costs and limit access. Child care providers are small-business owners and should have the right to negotiate rates with parents without interference from outside parties.
Some outstanding testimony on this subject was provided in a House committee. Click here for video clips of citizens speaking about this issue at the Capitol.
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Legislation to allow same-sex marriage is making its way through the legislative process. If passed, Minnesota would become the 10th state to redefine traditional marriage. Many people are disappointed social issues like this are moving through the Legislature ahead of bills to create jobs or establish a new state budget.
Please continue providing me with feedback on these and other issues.
Sincerely,
Paul