Dear Friends,
This week was another busy week at the Capitol. Policy committees have been particularly busy wrapping up and presenting their omnibus policy bills before Friday's policy deadline. This includes the Education Policy Committee, one of the committees on which I sit. I have touched on a few legislative issues below, which I think are pertinent.
WHO SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CRIME - THE CRIMINAL OR THE LAW ABIDING CITIZEN?
Why is it in Minnesota that we are decreasing penalties and eliminating laws for criminals who commit crimes with guns, while at the same time adding NEW laws that are aimed at penalizing law abiding gun owners?
We don't create laws to penalize account holders in order to go after bank robbers, do we? This makes no sense!
While they are busy adding more and more gun laws to the books focused on law abiding gun owners, Minnesota Democrats are simultaneously crafting new laws aimed at reducing penalties for criminals who break our current gun laws. A newly introduced bill would eliminate the current mandatory minimum prison sentences for crimes committed while using a gun. Why would they do that?
Just last week, House Republicans made a motion to bring a bill to the floor which would increase penalties for straw purchasers - someone who legally purchases a gun and then knowingly gives it to another person who is prohibited by law from owning a gun. Sadly, increasing penalties for a serious gun crime was rejected by the House majority.
Criminals who commit a crime with a gun should experience swift and strong penalties. Stop going after law abiding citizens and start holding criminals accountable!
Please watch my floor comments on this nonsense by clicking here.
TAX FIX BILL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES APRROVED
I always like to share good news, and our small businesses in Minnesota received some needed good news this week!
You may remember me writing in the first week of session that the Minnesota Legislature passed a measure that fixed errors in last year's tax bill that would have cost individual taxpayers in Minnesota a large amount of money. That error was thankfully remedied early, but unfortunately the majority leaders left out the needed fix for Minnesota businesses.
I am very happy to say that the House approved this critical fix for Minnesota businesses this week. The error in last year's tax bill, related to calculations in Net Operating Loss, would have cost small businesses in Minnesota millions in increased taxes. This bill will repair that error.
I’m glad we were finally able to get this approved. Our local Main Street businesses are already struggling greatly under the impacts of high inflation, new expensive state mandates, and employee shortages. They certainly didn't need to bear the burden of these unintended tax increases. The bill now heads to the Minnesota Senate for its approval.
UBER/LYFT SERVICES COULD DISAPPEAR WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE ACTION
I am guessing that most of you who read this update are familiar with ride services like Uber and Lyft, and that many of you have used these services at one time or another.
Millions of Minnesotans depend on ride-share services to get around the Twin Cities metro area. Thousands of seniors, those with disabilities, and many others use ride-share services for doctor appointments, grocery shopping, and more.
This travel convenience may soon be ending.
Unfortunately, the Minneapolis City Council recently approved a required pay increase for drivers of ride-share services that drive in or through their city. This will force Uber and Lyft to pay the city's required $15.57 minimum wage, even when drivers are working but not driving. Under the Minneapolis City Council’s Rideshare Ordinance, an Uber driver who works one hour and drives 25 miles would get paid $96.
Before the vote, these companies informed the city that this would make it too costly to do business in the Twin Cities, and if the measure was approved they would leave town. Despite this threatened exit, the Minneapolis Council voted for the plan. Now Uber has alerted drivers of its full pull out of the entire metro area on May 1, and Lyft has announced it’s plan to leave Minneapolis on that same date.
Unless the Legislature takes action, this extreme Democrat policy will end ride-share services for all Minnesotans. We're going to have a lot of unhappy people if these ride-share services leave our metro area!
LOCAL VISITORS
I am always so blessed when local constituents come to the Capitol to share their thoughts and ideas about various subjects for which they are passionate, and which impact their lives. I always learn the most from these local people.
Earlier this week, I had the honor to meet and chat with Dave Klatt of Albert Lea, who is a local insurance agent and also sits on the Albert Lea school board and the Minnesota School Board Association board.
We had some good discussions about school board issues and school finances.
I was also honored to visit with a number of employees from Prairie Senior Cottages and Thorncrest Senior Living Community in Albert Lea. We had some very productive discussions concerning long-term care issues.
Also visiting this week were Caleb Grunzke and Abbi Katz of Minnesota Lake who came separately to discuss insurance and college issues; local Minnesota Farm Bureau members; Minnesota Rural Electric Cooperative board members from a number of local counties; and city leaders from Manchester and Clarks Grove, including Mayors Steve Hannegrefs and Bruce Hansen. Both Clarks Grove and Manchester have important water infrastructure projects for which I am advocating to be included in this year's bonding bill.
Lots of issues to hear about and very good discussions! Thank you all for visiting me at the Capitol and for sharing your voices!
If you’re interested in seeing more photos of people who visited my office this week, please visit my Facebook page by clicking here.
Have a good weekend,
Peggy