Hello from St. Paul,
Happy New Year! It is an honor to serve you in the Minnesota House, and I have spent the last two weeks at the State Capitol going to work for you. Throughout session, I will be sending periodic emails to let you know what is happening in the Minnesota House. Read on to learn more!
WHAT'S NEW?
On January 3, I took the oath of office to serve as state representative for Minnesota House District 20A, which includes communities in Goodhue, Wabasha, and Dakota counties. I was pleased to have my family in attendance for the "Opening Day" ceremony.
I've also received my committee assignments. Over the next two years, I will be serving on the Minnesota House Education Finance, Elections Finance and Policy, and Climate and Energy Finance and Policy committees.
LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS
PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE
As the DFL has control of all three branches of government, they are moving quickly with an agenda that is out-of-touch with the majority of Minnesotans. I need to alert you to the Paid Family Medical Leave bill (HF 2) that would create a government requirement of 12 weeks of paid leave.
Many businesses are already struggling to hire workers and stay open. This bill would devastate ALL Minnesota employers, from small businesses, farms, cities, counties, and school districts as they will be paying for the program costs. Because, like any insurance plan, it's going to involve significant premiums being paid for by employers and employees. Common sense tells us that implementation of this paid leave mandate on even our smallest employers will ultimately cause a number of businesses to close.
ABORTION BILL – DEMS #1 PRIORITY
While the average Minnesotan has struggled with high inflation and gas prices, employers have struggled to hire and keep their doors open, and many nursing and disability homes across the state have struggled with a lack of funding and are in danger of closing, it is clear that House Democrats' #1 priority is abortion. The bills they are bringing forward regarding abortion are radical and extreme.
Currently, House Democrats are unanimously pushing a bill (HF 1) through committees that would allow abortions up until birth. Republicans have offered common sense amendments which take into account the health and safety of the mother and also the cruelty of late-term abortions, but the Democrats have refused to allow any amendments.
Here's something I learned this week: abortion facilities are not licensed or regulated in the State of Minnesota. Hair and nail salons are, but abortion facilities are not. And yet they are calling this "health care for women?"
Please get informed and involved on this issue and help contact Democrat legislators in our neighboring districts and ask them to support amendments for the safety of mothers.
I will keep you posted on the progress of these bills as they make their way through the process.
TAX CONFORMITY APPROVED IN HOUSE
On a positive note, I took my first vote in the Minnesota House and it was a 'yes' vote that allows state taxpayers to take advantage of numerous tax provisions already approved at the federal level. Federal conformity is needed in Minnesota to ease filing compliance burdens for residents and to help industries that were hardest hit from pandemic shutdowns – especially restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment industries.
In the House Taxes committee, Republicans prevented nearly $100 million in tax increases from being included in the conformity proposal, which means we were able to vote on a clean bill that will actually help taxpayers take advantage of federal tax reductions. The bill has been signed into law by Governor Walz.
PLEASE CONTACT ME
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. I am here to serve you!