Dear Friends,
As you probably know, the Waseca community is mourning the loss of Cpl. Caleb Erickson, who was killed in Afghanistan last week. Please keep Cpl. Erickson's family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Owatonna's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is encouraging members of our community to come and pay their respects for Cpl. Erickson for Saturday's funeral procession.
Erickson’s remains will be flown in to Owatonna Degner Regional Airport on Saturday afternoon. To honor Erickson, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon of Owatonna is asking citizens to turn out for a funeral procession that is planned as the soldier’s remains are taken from Owatonna to his hometown in Waseca.
Residents are being asked to meet at the south end of the Walmart parking lot in Owatonna between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m. before lining old Highway 14. A funeral procession will depart from the airport and travel to Waseca via old Highway 14. Further information about plans in Owatonna can be found on the Owatonna Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Facebook page.
Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives held a moment of silence in honor of Cpl. Erickson as well. You can see the video by clicking here or on the image below.
House Passes Tax Repeal
Yesterday the House voted overwhelmingly to repeal three of the business-to-business taxes passed by the majority last session. They included the telecommunications tax, the warehousing tax, and the commercial equipment repair tax, sometimes referred to as the farm equipment repair tax. The bill also conformed much of Minnesota's tax code to the federal tax code, restoring a number of tax credits available to Minnesota families. The bill used part of the $1.2 billion surplus, giving back money to the people it belongs to: the hardworking Minnesota taxpayers.
It's now up to the Senate to take action and pass a similar bill to send to Governor Dayton for his signature. I hope they will take action quickly -- the warehousing tax is set to begin in April, and with families filing their tax returns, we need to pass federal conformity to make sure Minnesotans get all of the tax credits they are entitled to.
Republicans see this as a positive first step: there's still about $600 million in surplus money remaining if this bill is passed. There are additional taxes that could be repealed, and Republicans will continue to encourage the majority to put more money back in the pockets of families.
Stay in Touch
As always, my door is open and I want to hear from you. If you're coming to St. Paul and would like to schedule a meeting, please contact my office at rep.john.petersburg@house.mn, or by phone at 651-296-5368. You can also stay up to date with the latest news and information from the House by liking my Facebook page, as well as the Minnesota House GOP Facebook page.
Take care,
Rep. John Petersburg