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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Eric Lucero (R)

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Legislative Session Begins

Friday, February 16, 2018

Dear Neighbor,


While it may be a little chilly outside, things are about the heat up in Saint Paul.  The MN House and Senate come back into session next week Tuesday, February 20th and there is a lot of important work to get done!

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Rep. Lucero visiting the Otsego City Council sharing his legislative preview in advance
of the legislative session beginning February 20.

LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW

Every year I make at least two visits to each of the city councils and school boards of our great community.  I’m currently making the rounds sharing my legislative preview as the legislative session is about to begin.  Below are only several of the high priority legislative items I expect will be addressed:

  • Funding for Legislative Branch
    • Gov. Dayton last year line-item vetoed funding for the Legislature and the MN Supreme Court effectively upheld the veto.  One of the first bills will be to restore funding to the Legislative Branch.
  • MNLARS
    • MNLARS is the new Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) database that contains among other things the records of all vehicle titles, tabs, license plates, etc.  The failed rollout of MNLARS beginning July 2017 has been a disaster creating hardship for individuals and businesses across the state.  Thus far MNLARS development and rollout has cost MN taxpayers $93 million and the Dayton Administration is seeking another $43 million.  As a member of the House Transportation Finance Committee, we will be working to resolve the MNLARS debacle and to bring relief ASAP.
  • Tax Conformity
    • December last year, President Trump and Congressional Republicans brought much needed tax relief at the national level to hard-working American individuals, families, and businesses.  The tax code must now be brought into conformity on the MN state level.
  • Supplemental Spending
    • Tax cuts at the national level have resulted in immediate positive economic expansion increasing tax collection revenue on the state level.  It is expected MN will have several hundred million dollars in budget surplus when the February forecast is released.  I will be working hard to funnel the surplus toward tax relief and more spending on roads and bridges transportation among other areas.
  • Health Care
    • Health care costs continue to crush hardworking families and businesses.  The ONLY effective solution that will reduce costs and increase quality is less government mandates and more free-market reforms.
  • Equity in Education Funding
    • Because a child’s educational opportunities should not be dependent upon the zip code where a child lives, I continue to fight for equity in education funding for our schools and children.  I recently participated on a legislative panel at a forum organized by Buffalo Superintendent Scott Thielman and STMA Superintendent Ann-Marie Foucault to discuss equity in education funding.  In addition to the current funding inequity gap of our rural school districts vs. metro area school districts, the topics of special education funding as well as the unhealthy emphasis pushing many young people into obtaining a four-year degree (when a two-year technical degree in the trades may be a better fit) were also discussed.

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Rep. Lucero attending the MCCL March for Life.

PRO LIFE

I am strongly pro-life because the truth is life begins in the womb and protecting innocent life of those still in the womb is a top priority in the continued fight for the right to live.  One bill I’m chief authoring this year is HF 2813 which seeks to increase the timeframe medical records related to abortions are required to be retained.

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Rep. Lucero joined by several colleagues for a legislative preview event hosted by I-94 West Corridor Coalition.

TRANSPORTATION

Three lanes on I-94 from Saint Michael to Albertville is a high priority I continue to work hard to achieve.  I am chief author in the House of the Corridors of Commerce program signed into law last year making hundreds of millions of dollars available for road projects.  The three lanes to Albertville project was recently submitted to MNDOT for Corridors of Commerce funding and it's expected road project funding will be announced April this year.

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Rep. Lucero recently touring one of Mediacom’s facilities and discussing the continued
expansion of broadband availability giving more Minnesotans access to higher-speed throughput.

STAYING IN TOUCH

As always please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you may have that will assist me best represent you.  The best way to reach me is by email at Rep.Eric.Lucero@House.MN or by phone at 651-296-1534.

Sincerely,
Eric Lucero

State Representative
District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton