Dear Neighbor,
The Minnesota House of Representatives returned to the Capitol in St. Paul as the 90th Legislature convened Tuesday to begin the 2017 session.
Opening Day in the Legislature always is special. I definitely feel a sense of gratitude for the people having once again put their trust in me as their representative at the Capitol.
We again face a number of serious challenges, especially as we work to establish a new two-year state budget. I look forward to continuing doing my best to represent the people of our area as we take on the issues.
One of those areas of top priority is tax relief and we already made progress. On Thursday, the House passed $21.7 million in immediate tax relief for Minnesotans by bringing the state’s tax code into compliance with federal provisions. This action, which passed 130-0, was necessary by Jan. 11 in order for tax software programs to be updated in time for qualifying Minnesotans to take advantage of available reductions this tax season.
Key provisions of the bill (H.F. 2) include:
- Providing deductions for higher education expenses
- Providing deductions for teacher classroom expenses up to $250
- Excluding compensation from taxable income for those who were wrongfully incarcerated
- Eliminating the need for two sets of depreciation schedules for those who purchase work equipment
- Providing an itemized deduction for mortgage insurance premiums
- Excluding from gross income loan forgiveness on home foreclosures
- Allowing the tax paid on high-cost employer health care coverage to be claimed as an itemized deduction
Much more work remains on tax relief this session, but this was a good accomplishment so early into the session.
On a more disappointing note, efforts to fast-track passage of the 2017 Health Care Emergency Aid and Access bill (H.F. 1) were rejected by the minority on Thursday. This important bill would provide premium relief, extend access to doctors for continuity of care, and begin to reform the individual market. I am confident improvements will be made, but enactment now will be delayed.
Look for more updates on the issues throughout the session. I also will be resuming my weekly column submissions to newspapers throughout District 12B, so be sure to look for those. As always, your correspondence is welcome.
Sincerely,
Paul