Dear neighbors,
Last week Governor Mark Dayton announced he plans to scrap his budget’s business-to-business sales tax proposal.
The announcement came one day after I met with the Governor to share concerns from constituents about the proposal’s impact on small businesses in our District.
From the time he first announced the business-to-business tax proposal, I have held town hall meetings, distributed a legislative survey, and met with business owners to gather input and feedback. I was grateful for the opportunity to share the concerns I heard from constituents with the Governor.
Throughout the entire budget process, Governor Dayton has been open to feedback and new ideas relayed to me by my constituents. He showed leadership by listening to our concerns and others who criticized his initial proposal. Receptive and responsive government is exactly what Minnesotans deserve from their elected officials.
Right now, the Legislature is putting together our own budget proposal that will incorporate feedback I’ve heard from constituents and business owners. They want us to get Minnesota’s fiscal house on stable footing by passing an honest, fair budget that doesn’t rely on gimmicks, shifts, or one-time fixes. They also want us to make smart investments in our children’s education so we can keep Minnesota competitive in an increasingly global economy.
While the budget remains this year’s front and center issue, I’ve also been working to address shrinking water levels at White Bear Lake. I introduced legislation to improve groundwater monitoring, conservation efforts, and local officials’ ability to monitor and assess this ongoing problem. Over the coming weeks and month, I plan to continue working with DNR officials to find a solution.
If you want to share your ideas and ask questions about our state budget and local issues such as water levels at White Bear Lake, I encourage you to attend my upcoming town hall meeting. It’s taking place on Saturday, March 23 from 9:00-11:00am at Mahtomedi City Hall, located at 600 Stillwater Road in Mahtomedi.
If you’re unable to make it, please click here to fill out my 2013 legislative survey. It’s a great way to share your feedback about the big challenges facing our state.
As always, feel free to contact me anytime by phone at (651) 296-5365, by email at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn, or by postal mail at 421 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. You can also ‘like’ my page on Facebook to get news and updates about my work at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Peter Fischer
State Representative, District 43A