Dear Friends,
I hope you’re staying warm out there this weekend. If you’re heading outside, make sure to bundle up, and don’t forget a set of jumper cables in the car. We have such a caring community those could come in handy to help a neighbor.
First Week of Session
The 90th Legislature of Minnesota was sworn-in on Tuesday. The ceremony took place in the renovated Capitol. It felt great to have the Capitol once again open to the public. It’s truly a building for the people, and Minnesotans deserve to have easy access to interact with their legislators.
Yesterday was the first day we could hear bills in the House, and we didn’t waste any time. We quickly passed a $22 million tax relief bill to conform to federal tax standards. The bill will help 220,000 Minnesotans including teachers, homeowners, and families saving for college. We have a budget surplus, and this is just one small portion of what will hopefully be a large tax relief package this session.
After passing that bill, we tried to hear legislation to provide premium relief for those buying insurance on the individual market. Despite a clear need to advance this legislation, House Democrats blocked discussion of the bill. It’s disappointing we couldn’t pass the bill yesterday, but I expect we’ll find common ground for a solution. We’re continuing to work on this bill, and should pass it in the near future.
Good Luck, Winter Sports
We’re back from Christmas and New Year break, and our winter sports teams are in the heart of their seasons. Good luck to our teams; you always make us proud!
As always, please call or email me with questions or ideas. I’ll be in St. Paul for much of the next few months, and hope you’ll contact me. Also, if you’re planning to visit, please schedule a time for us to sit down and chat; I’d love to hear from you.
Have a great weekend,
Ron