Hello from the State Capitol,
The second week of the 2022 legislative session is nearly over, and I am moving forward on plans to improve transportation in Blaine.
As most of you know, my top priority is Highway 65. With a nearly $8 billion budget surplus, we have the opportunity to use some of this revenue to rebuild this critical road. Along those lines, I am in the process of having bills drafted that would help with reconstruction along 99th, 109th, and 117th Avenues in Blaine. They should be ready by next week, and I’m looking forward to sharing the details with you then.
We are also working towards a solution to prevent local business owners from seeing a huge tax increase. Record-setting unemployment claims depleted Minnesota's Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund at the start of the pandemic. This resulted in a debt of more than $1 billion to the federal government, which serves as the backstop when states deplete their UI funds. To make up for that loss, payroll tax rates on business owners will increase on March 15 by 14% or more to replenish the fund.
Minnesota has more than $1 billion in unspent federal COVID relief funds. In the Minnesota House Workforce and Business Development Policy and Finance Committee this week, a bill was heard that would use these funds to replenish the UI Trust Fund.
This is a common-sense solution that needs to be enacted quickly. Minnesota has a record amount of revenue – whether federal aid or state surplus – waiting for allocation. With that in mind, there is no reason anyone should be facing an unneeded tax increase.
As always, I look forward to hearing your legislative questions and comments. You can reach me at rep.nolan.west@house.mn.
Have a good weekend,
Nolan