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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Todd Lippert (DFL)

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Rep. Lippert Supports House Jobs & Local Projects Legislation, Includes Temporary PCA Wage Increase

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

St. Paul, MN – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other items, the legislation contains $1.879 billion toward public assets such as higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, transportation, parks, trails, and funding for underserved communities. State Representative Todd Lippert (DFL - Northfield), who authored the portion of the bill that provides a temporary raise increase for personal care assistants (PCAs), voted in favor of the legislation. 

 

“This bill as a whole supports the entire state by delivering on the jobs and resources needed to help Minnesota recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, and the included wage increase for PCAs supports some of the most vulnerable Minnesotans during this trying time,” said Rep. Lippert. “It was hard to access care before COVID-19, and it’s even more difficult now. The temporary raise increase is long overdue, and it’s time we support the Minnesotans who care for us.”

 

For the City of Northfield, the bill invests in a new regional transit hub. In addition to investments in infrastructure, the bill delivers $16 million in funding for direct care and treatment programs, $10.3 million to ensure sexual assault examination kits get tested, and a salary increase for state troopers in line with other law enforcement agencies.

 

The bill also contains a series of tax provisions, including full section 179 conformity for the federal tax code which will help businesses and farmers. It contains a policy fix for short-term rental properties, flexibility for the Minnesota State High School League’s sales tax proceeds, and an expansion of the homestead property tax exclusion for the spouses of deceased disabled veterans.

 

A full list of projects included in the bill can be accessed here and the legislation itself can be accessed here.

Additionally, Rep. Lippert was the author of a bill allowing more funds for farmers impacted by COVID-19, which passed unanimously in the House this evening. 

 

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