Dear Neighbors,
The pace in St. Paul has slowed down considerably this week with many of the large supplemental finance bills having received initial approval in the Minnesota House of Representatives. As I detailed last week, I have been unable to support most of these bills because they contain “poison pill” provisions that will not help our communities and region reach their fullest potential.
Many of the bills will now head to conference committee where differences between the House and Senate versions are hashed out before returning for final passage in each legislative body.
If you ever have a question about a vote I have taken on legislation, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my office. My contact information can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.
Protecting the Future Prosperity for the Iron Range
Last week, the Minnesota House approved this year’s Tax omnibus bill. Included in the bill was a provision that leverages the future economic prosperity of the Iron Range for short-term, instant gratification funding.
To be clear, the projects included in the bill are not without merit and my opposition to this provision has nothing to do with the worthiness of these projects. That is why I spoke about the importance of our outstanding team at the IRRR and how they work with our communities and bring these projects to life. This legislation in essence bypasses them and all their good work and experience.
Please take a moment to watch the video below where I discuss this provision and why I think it presents issues for the long-term prosperity of the Range. Click here or the photo below to watch.
Minnesota Made
On Thursday, the House approved an Agriculture, Commerce, and Energy supplement finance bill. It’s not entirely clear what these three subject areas have in common and why they should be combined into one omnibus bill. Nevertheless, during debate, I offered an amendment to the Energy portion of the bill that would require at least 50% domestic production for components used in state subsidized wind, solar and energy storage projects.
This is a way for the state of Minnesota to take a stand and say that if we are going to subsidize green energy projects, then at least 50% of the components needed to build those projects should be sourced from the United States. More specifically, they should be sourced from Northeastern Minnesota.
You can watch a speech I gave on this amendment by clicking here or the photo below.
Staying in Touch
Stay tuned for more updates from St. Paul as the legislative session unfolds. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to my office for any questions, comments, or concerns about the bills, ideas, and issues that matter to all of us at the Capitol! Also, please make sure to share this link with anyone who may be interested in signing up for my newsletter: https://rb.gy/5slax9.
Contact me by phone at 651-296-4936 or via email at rep.spencer.igo@house.mn.gov.
Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!
Spencer