Greetings! For those of you I have yet to meet, my name is Josh Heintzeman and it is an honor and privilege to be your new State Representative for House District 10A. District 10A includes much of western Crow Wing County including the cities of Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, and Pequot Lakes.
Please keep an eye on your email inbox as I will be sending out weekly updates on what is taking place in St. Paul and how it affects our communities. I am committed to ensuring that you are kept up-to-date on important legislation and events that are taking place in St. Paul.
A little about myself: My wife and I have been married for fifteen wonderful years and have five children. In 1978, when I was a child, my father moved our family to the Lakes Area and started building log homes. I have since been fortunate enough to become a partner in the family business, Up Country Log, and have lived in Nisswa since 1991. I am very blessed to live in the Lakes Area and am excited for the chance to serve our community as your state representative.
I have been appointed to work on three committees this session. These committees include Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance, Higher Education Policy and Finance, and the Legacy Funding Finance committee where I will serve as vice-chair. I am excited to serve on these committees as they will have a direct impact on our communities in Crow Wing County. Our area’s lakes and natural resources are our greatest economic assets as they drive our tourism industry. My work on the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance committee as well as the Legacy Funding Finance committee will aim to ensure that our lakes, rivers, and woodlands are preserved for future generations to enjoy. We will also work to make sure that the DNR is efficiently and effectively performing the duties that the legislature has tasked it to do. As vice-chair of the Legacy Funding Finance committee, I am committed to ensuring that Greater Minnesota is getting its fair share of Legacy funding. In the past, Legacy funding has been too focused on allocating funds for wasteful Twin Cities projects. I am committed to seeing that this practice is ended and more resources are directed towards strengthening our hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreational opportunities in Greater Minnesota.
The House passed its first bill of the session on Thursday. House File 6 conforms Minnesota’s tax code to some of the federal changes that have been made since 2013 as it pertains to items in tax year 2014. In total, this bill provides $19.9 million dollars in immediate tax relief for hardworking Minnesotans. Key provisions in this bill include deductions for higher education tuition, classroom expenses for teachers, and a mortgage insurance premiums. Minnesotans pay enough in taxes already. That’s why I am glad that the first bill we passed will leave more money in taxpayers’ pockets.
Please know that I am here to serve you and be your voice at the Capitol. I am excited to hear your suggestions on how we can make state government work better for you, your family, and your business. We do better as a state when all of Minnesota is thriving, not just the Twin Cities metro area. With your input, we can continue to make Minnesota an outstanding place to live, work, and raise a family.
f you are planning on being in St. Paul this session, please feel free to contact my office by phone at 651-296-4929 or via email at rep.josh.heintzeman@house.mn to set up an appointment. It would be an honor to speak with you and discuss ways we can make Minnesota better.
Thank you for the honor to serve you,
Josh