Dear Neighbor,
Hello from St. Paul, where I am honored to be representing the people of District 20A at the Capitol after having officially been sworn into the House of Representatives.
The 2015 session is now underway and most of our first week was spent in the orientation process, including getting familiar with the committees we are serving. Three of the four committees I am with in the House – Capital Investment, Job Growth and Energy Affordability, and Property tax and Local Government – match my banking background with ties to finance, so that is a plus. I also am on the Civil Law and Data Practices Committee.
Floor sessions are mainly brief to start, with most of our energy being put toward committee work where we are now hearing bills as they make their way through the process. One key thing we did on the floor this week was to approve a bill that will assist Minnesotans as they file their taxes.
The bill we passed matches Minnesota’s tax code with some of the federal tax changes made since 2013. The changes are effective for all 2014 tax returns and, in total, provide $19.9 million in immediate tax relief to hardworking Minnesotans. This includes:
-
Higher education tuition deduction
-
Educator classroom expenses deduction
-
$1.2 million in fiscal year 2015; about 60,000 returns, $20 average tax decrease
-
$4.6 million in fiscal year 2015; about 60,000 returns; $75 average tax decrease
-
Mortgage insurance premiums deduction
There also are other valuable provisions such as for charitable contributions. Click here for the complete House bill.
I will continue sending updates like these as we make our way through the session. Here is a press release media outlets recently ran with more about me joining the House. Also keep your eyes open for a legislative column I sent to the newspapers this week.
Please stay in touch as we make our way through the session. Listening to your feedback will help me do my very best in representing the wishes of local folks. The best way to reach me during the session is by emailing rep.bob.vogel@house.mn or by calling my legislative office at (651) 296-7065. My office is 581 State Office Building if you plan to visit the Capitol and would like to set up an appointment to meet with me.
Sincerely,
Bob