Dear Lakeville Neighbors,
I hope you had a relaxing, refreshing holiday season, and are enjoying getting back to your routine. The New Year means a chance for us to start looking toward the upcoming legislative session. As part of the 12-member CARE Act Working Group, I recently joined my fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives to unveil a package of proposals to assist Minnesota’s growing aging population.
CARE Act
Titled the CARE (Caring for the Aging, Retiring and Elderly) Act, our plan builds on the bipartisan funding and reforms passed in 2015. With sixty thousand Minnesotans turning 65 this year, we are seeing a major demographic shift. By 2020, our state will be home to more seniors than all K-12 students. These proposals aim to increase options in health care, housing, transportation, and financial security to better assist the expanding aging population.
One of the major components of the CARE Act is to remove the burdensome tax on seniors’ Social Security income. As I speak with constituents around the district, I continually hear this as a major issue for many people. We are one of just SIX states in the country to tax Social Security. The CARE Act phases out this oppressive tax and puts more money back in seniors’ pockets; providing seniors more financial stability.
Along with tax relief and transportation funding, care of our elderly population will be an important issue throughout the legislative session. If you have any ideas or suggestions on aging care, please contact my office.
Thank You, Senator Thompson
Earlier this week, our state senator, Dave Thompson, announced he would retire from the Legislature at the end of his term as he will be moving outstate with his private sector job. Throughout my 10-plus years knowing him, Sen. Thompson has become a close friend, almost like a brother. In my first term, I’ve already learned much from him, and am deeply thankful for his mentorship.
Since 2010, Sen. Thompson has been a strong, conservative voice for this area, and always fought for his principles, and our district’s principles. Minnesota is a better state because of his leadership, and he will be missed in St. Paul. I wish him, his wife Rhonda, and his family the very best in the future.
As always, please continue to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have. You can reach me at (651) 296-6926 or Rep.Jon.Koznick@house.mn.
Best,
Jon Koznick
State Representative
Lakeville, 58A