Legislative Update - April 17, 2019

Neighbors,

This week the legislature took a break to observe Easter & Passover, spend time in our districts, and get some rest before we negotiate our final budget at the end of session. 

Leveling the Playing Field
Last week we announced our tax bill, which closes corporate tax loopholes and allows us to lower taxes for families and individuals. 

3/4 of the revenue raised from corporations will go into E-12 education. The remaining fourth will go into higher education and allow for a two-year tuition freeze. Minnesotans have been telling the Legislature for years that the state’s commitment to our schools has not kept pace with inflation, leading to layoffs and local referendums for property taxpayers to fund just the basics. By targeting corporate tax havens and making sure big corporations pay their fair share, the investments in our schools that Minnesotans want are possible.

Transportation Safety Bill Passes House & Senate 
House Democrats and Senate Republicans worked together last week to pass a bill to increase drivers' safety. There are a lot of distractions out on the road, and our cell phones are a constant cause of accidents and distraction. I voted for this bill because it will make our roads safer. Too many lives are lost each year to drivers who aren't paying attention. The Governor signed the bill last week, and Minnesota will become the 17th state to put a hands-free cellphone law on the books. 

Minnesota Public Radio covered the vote here.

Constituent Shout-Outs
Last week was filled with so many people doing great work.

Had the honor of co-hosting the SD64 luncheon with Representative Pinto and Senator Cohen. How lucky we are to have such engaged constituents who care about all Minnesotans.

Met with the fierce women advocating for wolves. Stephanie Digby, Lori Moss, and Janice Ann Smith with Howling for Wolves shared really compelling information as to why wolves need protection.
 

Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance: Tom Smart, Angela Edwards and Mollie Clark. Thank you for teaching me about this topic. Tom, your story moved me and helped me understand why this work needs to be supported.

Water Action Day at the Capitol brought Kirsten Arm, Whitney Clark, Paula Maccabee, Margot Monson, Whitney Clark, Kristin Hogquist, Dawn Tanner and Brad Gordon for a visit. Your values are my values. Thank you for keeping this work top of mind for me.

POCI Legislators and staff taking time to celebrate this historic time in Minnesota history and celebrating each other.

UST students, Tony Preston and Gabby Baumann paid me a visit. They did a great job representing the importance of mental health work and making sure there are adequate resources.

I was able to spend a whole hour with St. Kate's Professor Katharine Hill's class. I'm not sure if they were the teacher or I was. Each group of students worked on a project in a topic area that had personal significance. The students did a superb job in presenting the issue and ask for supporting the issues.

I drove down to my alma mater, University of Wisconsin Madison, to speak with students on understanding the intersectionality of our identities and how this requires intersectionality of learning.