Dear Neighbors,
I hope you were able to spend time with friends and family last weekend as we celebrated Easter. It was so nice to enjoy the warm weather, it really feels like summer is just around the corner.
The legislature returned to St. Paul this week following the conclusion of its annual Easter/Passover break. It was refreshing to be back home in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area last week and to hear from so many of you.
I recently chatted with the kind folks at TPT about my first term as a State Representative and what made me want to run for office and serve our community in the state legislature.
Click here or the photo below to watch the video.
Omnibus Bills
This week, House Democrats unveiled several of their omnibus finance bills. While there are undoubtedly good provisions in all of these bills, I am disappointed that many of them contain language that will raise fees and taxes on hardworking Minnesotans.
For instance, their Tax omnibus bill raises taxes by more than $1 billion and fails to fully protect businesses from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) tax hikes on forgiven loans.
More specifically it caps PPP relief at $350,000, meaning many businesses will still be taxed on forgiven PPP loans that were used to pay employees and keep their doors open during a difficult year.
Additionally, their transportation bill raises more than $1.5 billion in new taxes and fees. This includes increases in the gas tax, vehicle sales tax, and higher fees for vehicle registration.
This is the wrong approach for the Northland and Minnesota as the state has a multi-billion-dollar budget surplus and is set to receive billions more from the federal government thanks to the congressional COVID bill.
We need to be investing in policy that is lifting up our fellow Minnesotans, not hampering them with more government and higher taxes. This is the message I have and will continue to spread here in St. Paul.
Mining our Future
Two weeks ago, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sent a letter to the Biden Administration effectively asking for a moratorium on copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
I wish I could say this comes as a surprise, but Senator Tina Smith has finally shown her true colors as an anti-mining Senator. In writing this letter, Senator Smith has made one thing clear, she does not stand with the hard-working men and women of labor or for the continued prosperity of northeastern Minnesota.
We have been mining safely and responsibly for over 140 years with the world’s greatest environmental standards. The Senator says that mining is an important tradition in northeastern Minnesota, yet she continues to play politics with the families and jobs of our region.
Her stance is a clear deviation from the process Governor Walz wants to follow. Where is the Governor? Is he willing to stand up for the working men and women of the Iron Range?
This letter makes clear that Senator Smith is willing to leave our community to fend for itself. While she throws up additional roadblocks, I remain steadfast in my commitment to safe and responsible mining in Minnesota.
Mining our future here in Minnesota is the way that we as Minnesotans can continue to be leaders not only in our Country but Our World. Let us lead by mining our critical minerals here with the best workforce, labor, and environmental standards. We will create a domestic supply of these critical minerals that are essential for the world of tomorrow. Doing this is the start to putting an end to the human rights violations and environmental harm that is caused by mining in less developed countries around the world.
Staying in Touch
As your representative, it is my duty to listen to your thoughts, questions, and concerns regarding state government. Please do not hesitate to contact me, it would be great to chat. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4936 or via email at rep.spencer.igo@house.mn.
Have a great day,
Spencer