Dear Neighbor,
Lots going on with omnibus season happening at the Capitol and Mothers Day and the state fishing opener just around the corner. There still is a lot of ice on the lakes, so let’s pray for plenty of sunshine during the next week to burn it off so we can get out on the water.
As for work at the Capitol, most of our time and energy has been spent on the floor discussing the majority’s omnibus bills for the session. The House Democrats’ tax bill was among the last the majority brought up for preliminary approval and I’m hoping the version that comes back for final consideration includes more relief for Minnesotans. The version we saw this week is part of the House majority’s overall plan which spends $21 for every $1 in tax cuts, pretty much the opposite of what we should be doing at a time when the state has a historic surplus.
We have until May 23, when the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn, to find agreement on the tax bill and several other omnibus bills so we’ll see what transpires over the next couple of weeks.
In other news, the Legislature recently approved (and the governor enacted) legislation which provides $2.7 billion to fully repay the trust fund which was depleted with more people out of work during the pandemic.
It is a relief to see this legislation reach the finish line to spare our employers from suffering this unjust tax increase. faced so many added challenges the last couple of years and the last thing they needed was a tax increase through no fault of their own at a time the state has a historic surplus.
Senate Republicans approved a clean bill to rectify this issue in February, with broad, bipartisan support. House Democrats delayed action until late April, when they added more than $1 billion in other funding to the bill. This change complicated matters and delayed final approval, costing state taxpayers $50,000 in interest for every day the legislation languished.
Final language includes $500 million in payments to frontline workers – approximately $750 per person – and $190 million is provided to Minnesota Management & Budget for continued COVID-19 expenses. Another measure allows just one legislative body to reject an expenditure instead of the current requirement for both bodies to object.
Click here for details on the changes in unemployment insurance law, and you also can visit www.frontlinepay.mn.gov for information on frontline worker pay eligibility and more.
Until next time, have a good weekend and please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Sincerely,
Matt