Dear Lakeville friends and neighbors,
As we enter the last week of the legislative session, thank you for the honor of representing you. During the last 5 months we have worked long hours listening to and learning about new ideas to bring forth balanced approaches to address our most pressing issues in health care, transportation, education, public safety, taxes, the environment and many other areas. I’ll continue to support and stand firm on policies that reflect the principles we campaigned on, while working across party lines to find areas of agreement and to complete the important business of setting a responsible budget. With a $2 billion surplus, we are committed to no tax increases.
Many of you received the results of my 2015 Legislative Survey at my town hall this past Thursday. I wanted to take a moment to share the results with the rest of you and explain some action we have taken to be responsive your concerns.
When it comes to transportation, 76% of you do not support the proposed 6.5% increase in the gas tax. I’m proud to report that our Republican transportation budget invests in roads and bridges over a ten year period without raising taxes, allowing you to better reach your destination without taking more of your hard earned tax dollars. We’ll continue to advocate for a transportation budget that does not include a tax increase.
Education continues to be a top priority for our district. 91% of survey respondents support the Republican proposal to allow school districts the ability to take into account teacher performance, not just teacher seniority, in staffing decisions. I voted for this proposal when it came to the House floor earlier this session, as I believe it offers our school districts the opportunity to ensure that each classroom has a top-notch educator in each classroom, even in tough budgeting times. We have also increased spending on education by over $1 billion for the next biennium, including nearly $40 million towards early learning and school readiness scholarships.
On the heels of a reported $1.9 billion surplus, 53% of you believe that we should return those tax dollars to the taxpayer. Likewise, nearly 60% of you believe the best way to grow jobs in Minnesota is to provide tax relief. Along with my proposals to more effectively manage our tax dollars, I voted to give middle class Minnesota families tax relief over the next biennium. Included in the tax bill is a new state version of the personal or dependent tax exemption, saving a middle-class family of four more than $500 over the next two years.
Nearly 90% of you believe MNsure is not working as it is. You believe it can be fixed by repealing it entirely (50%), or enacting significant reforms (17%) or give people more options outside of the MNsure program (23%). The Health and Human Services bill looks to enact major reform and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse by implementing an overdue, system wide audit for eligibility, expected to save taxpayers about $300 million.
Finally, a belated Happy Mother’s Day to all our Lakeville moms. I am so thankful for my wife Patty, and the sacrifices and contributions she makes raising our two daughters, especially in the last five months where I’ve spent more time in at the Capitol. Thank her if you get a chance!
I hope that all of you had a great weekend filled with celebrations of your hard work and sacrifice.
For all the latest information on our budget negotiations, follow me on Twitter. Please continue to contact my office with any questions or concerns. You can reach me via phone at (651) 296-4375, or via email at rep.jon.koznick@house.mn.
Working hard for all our families,
Rep. Jon Koznick