Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Fishing opener is Saturday and I wish everybody a fun time enjoying one of Minnesota’s greatest pastimes!
Mother’s Day is Sunday and I wish all mothers well as we honor the love and sacrifice each of our mothers gives to us!!
In Capitol related news, slightly more than a week remains this legislative session until the May 20th Constitutional mandate to adjourn. The terrible omnibus spending bills House Democrats passed containing billions in tax and fee increases are currently in Conference Committees being negotiated with the Senate Republican majority.
Rep. Lucero dressed the part this week in celebration of Derby Day at the Capitol!
$12 BILLION
The sum of the new tax and fee increases Democrats are demanding within the Democrat spending bills equals $12 billion! This includes a gas tax hike, a sales tax hike, a tax on being sick, and more. The terrible Democrat omnibus spending bills are currently being negotiated with the Senate Republican majority.
There's absolutely ZERO reason Minnesotans should pay higher taxes at any time, let alone at a time when we have a $1 billion budget surplus! It's time Democrats get serious, drop their tax increase demands, and agree on a budget that respects the budgets of Minnesota taxpayers.
Language in the Democrat bill HF 90 passed off the House Floor this week with blank “Dots” placeholders for the fee increases Democrats are demanding be imposed on assisted living facilities.
DEMOCRATS TRY TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT
We debated HF 90 on the House Floor this week. The chief author of the bill offered a 169-page delete everything amendment which contained lines seen in the above image. Lines 40.32 and 40.33 include fee increases on ALL senior assisted living facilities across the state. The catch? THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE INCREASE IS BLANK!!!
Democrats demanded the incomplete bill containing unknown fee increases that will negatively impact seniors be passed off the House Floor. Needless to say, a lengthy debate ensued. Republicans made multiple attempts to refer the bill back to committee to complete, to amend the bill with actual numbers, etc., but Democrats voted AGAINST each and every Republican attempt to ensure full transparency with actual dollar amounts. Nevertheless, Democrats continued their blatant pattern of attempting to hide the billions in tax and fee increases Democrats are seeking to crush hardworking and retired Minnesotans with. Democrats passed the bill with “dots, dots, dots” in mystery fee hikes on assisted living facilities…
Newly elected University of Minnesota Regents from left to right - Janie Mayeron, Mike Kenyanya, Kao Ly Ilean Her, and Mary Davenport - after their election this week by a House-Senate joint convention.
BOARD OF REGENTS
The University of Minnesota is governed by the 12-member Board of Regents. Each of the twelve members of the Board of Regents serves a six-year term elected by the 201 joint members of the House and Senate which means every two years, four members of the board are elected/re-elected.
This week four new members were elected to the board. The full board will make decisions impacting tuition increases, education programming, and assist guiding incoming U of M President Joan Gabel, who takes office July 1.
Rep. Lucero visiting with 6th graders from STMA Middle School East during their tour of the Capitol this week.
STAYING IN TOUCH
Each and every day I’m continuously humbled at the opportunity to represent and fight for the values and priorities of our great community!
Please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you have to 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