Dear Neighbor,
Thank you to everyone who took my 2016 Legislative Survey. We had nearly 600 respondents from District 29B!
I appreciate hearing from you about your priorities for state government, and want to thank everyone who took the time to share their opinions with me. Some of the prevailing themes I saw throughout the survey were support for a transportation bill to fix our roads and bridges and a preference for tax relief this session.
Here are the results:
Do you support ending Minnesota taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood?
Yes 57.61%
No 32.35%
Undecided 10.03%
In the most recent economic forecast, Minnesota is projected to have a $900 million surplus. What should the state do with that money?
Invest in our roads and bridges 31.71%
Return that money to taxpayers through tax relief 25.78%
Increase government spending 7.42%
Pay down state debt 15.52%
Combination of the above 19.57%
Last session, Governor Dayton proposed creating all-day pre-kindergarten for Minnesota's three and four year olds in our public schools. Currently, the state offers scholarships to help qualifying families choose a pre-kindergarten program for their child. Proponents of the governor's plan claim it will help close the achievement gap for children from low-income families. Opponents claim it is too expensive, school districts do not have the resources or room to accommodate so many new students, and it takes away parent choice in early education programs. Do you support Governor Dayton's all-day pre-kindergarten proposal?
Yes 14.9%
No 72.26%
Undecided 12.84%
Tax relief is expected to be an important issue in the 2016 legislative session. Would you like to see middle class tax relief passed this year?
Yes 77.45%
No 11.02%
Undecided 11.53%
Under Minnesota state law, Sunday liquor sales are illegal in Minnesota. Do you support repealing this law, allowing liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays?
Yes 54.17%
No 37.02%
Undecided 8.81%
Last year, House Republicans introduced a 10-year, $7 billion transportation bill that invests in road and bridge improvements without raising the gasoline tax or seven-county metro area sales tax. Do you support this proposal?
Yes 69.13%
No 14.24%
Undecided 16.64%
Do you support phasing out the income tax on social security and veteran pensions?
Yes 80.27%
No 9.43%
Undecided 10.29%
PIPELINE Bill
Last week on the House Floor, my legislation for the dual training grant program, also known as PIPELINE passed.
The PIPELINE program was created last year, and this bill makes some modifications to make it easier for employers to access these grants, as well as for the Office of Higher Education to administer. The program is about helping businesses develop talent and meet needs in areas where there is a skill shortage through public-private partnerships.
The PIPELINE grant program was created for high demand jobs in four sectors: advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care and IT.
You can see my introduction of the bill on the House Floor and learn more about it here.
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If you need assistance an issue pertaining to state government, my office is available to you. You can e-mail at Rep.Marion.ONeill@House.MN or call my office at 651-296-5063. You can also write a letter to me. My office address at the Capitol is 549 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Marion