Legislative Update
Dear Neighbor,
Here are some updates on what's going on in St. Paul:
Budget Surplus
A couple weeks ago, Minnesota Management and Budget released its February economic forecast, showing a $329 million surplus for the 2018-2019 biennium. This is a turnaround from projections late last year predicting a deficit; one of the reasons for this is Congress' reauthorization of the children's health insurance program (CHIP).
The surplus is good news but I’m committed to responsible investment and tax modifications to protect our hard-won economic stability.
Minnesota in the News
According to a KMSP report, the overall high school graduation rate in Minnesota reached a record high of nearly 83 percent.
Minnesota moved up a spot in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the best states in the nation. Two of the main reasons for our high ranking were “quality of life” and greater opportunities.
School Safety Action
Last week, Gov. Dayton released his proposal to increase school safety in our state. It would provide $21 million for schools to use on safety measures like secured entrances and bulletproof glass, while also marking $5 million for in-school mental health support.
These are common sense measures both sides can agree on and move forward.
Too Much Junk Mail?
The average household receives 70 POUNDS of unwanted mail every year. Here are some ways to reduce the amount of junk mail sent to you.
Opt out of preapproved credit offers at www.optoutprescreen.com.
Remove your address from mail coupon services like Redplum and Valpak. For Redplum visit www.redplum.com and search “remove address.” For Valpak visit www.valpak.com and click “address removal” at bottom of page.
Decline to receive a yellow pages book at www.yellowpagesoptout.com.
Please continue to send your feedback, ideas, and input to me throughout the session and beyond.
Sincerely,
Rep. Duane Sauke