Dear Neighbors,
Activity has shifted firmly to conference committees at the Capitol. With less than four weeks left in the legislative session, I’m hopeful we’ll see House and Senate Republicans release joint budget numbers that prioritize things Minnesotans care about like education, transportation and bonding bill for statewide infrastructure projects.
Town Hall Meeting This Saturday!
As a reminder, I hope you will join me for a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, April 29th at 10:30 a.m. at the Shoreview Library (4560 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, 55126).
Public Safety Conference Committee
One of the bills moving through conference committees is the House Omnibus Public Safety Bill. My bill to provide funding for domestic violence prevention, HF 2337, is included in the House version but not the Senate version. Yesterday I was able to present the bill to the Conference Committee. I am hopeful that this important provision stays in.
Helping More Minnesotans Save for Retirement
Over half of Minnesotans don’t feel like they’re saving enough for retirement. I recently introduced HF 2570 which will allow people who do not currently have access to employer-sponsored retirement accounts the ability to better save on their own. House Public Information Services interviewed me about this bill as part of their Starting Line video series.
I am excited about this innovative approach to saving for retirement.
Property Tax and Renters Credit
Now that you’ve likely filed your taxes for the year, I wanted to remind everyone to apply for a property tax refund or renters credit. The deadline to file for a property tax refund is August 15th, but it is often easiest to file the paperwork now. Take a few minutes and apply for your refund online at the Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Refund website.
Many Minnesotans qualify for this refund but many also forget to file! My 90-year-old grandma did not know about this program until last year. The amount she received was very meaningful to her as someone who lives on a fixed income.
Legislative Survey
Also, if you haven’t done so yet, please make sure you participate in my online constituent survey! The link is below. I plan to keep the survey active until May 1st.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Becker-Finn2017
It is an honor to be your voice at the Capitol. Please do not hesitate to contact me about any issues or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Jamie
P.S: Don’t forget to forward this update to your friends and family. They can sign up to receive these updates here.