Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.  Dear Neighbors, I hope this email finds you well! First and foremost, I’d like to extend gratitude to you and our Chanhassen and Chaska neighbors for the opportunity to represent our communities at the State Capitol. It’s a great responsibility and I’m excited to build on our conversations over the past few months to deliver on our state’s needs.  This year, I’ll be serving on the Agriculture, Climate and Energy Finance and Policy, Education Finance, and Sustainable Infrastructure Policy committees in the Minnesota House. All important areas of our state budget, I’m looking forward to working on solutions that allow us to build on our strong school academics and programming in the west metro, invest in safe transportation infrastructure for pedestrians and commuters, ensure clean water access, and lower costs for our families and seniors. The most important part of this work is bringing our communities’ voices to the State Capitol so I can be effective and get us the results we expect and deserve. Please know I’m available via email at rep.lucy.rehm@house.mn.gov to help answer questions, or get you the assistance you need. Here’s an update from St. Paul: Tax Conformity Signed into LawThe week after being sworn in, the House and Senate took swift action to draft, vet, and unanimously pass a tax conformity bill that will deliver $100 million in tax cuts for individuals and businesses. You can read my official statement on the passage here.  Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, there have been a number of federal aid initiatives enacted to help Americans, many of which would be treated as taxable income without passing this state legislation to conform to federal tax changes. Some of these initiatives included the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Security Act, the American Rescue Plan, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would impact many Minnesotans who relied on this relief at a time when it was needed most. This was a priority to get done ahead of the 2022 tax season to simplify the process and ensure nobody has to deal with the headache of filing amendments on their tax returns. Governor Walz signed the measure into law last Friday. Protecting Reproductive Freedom for MinnesotansToday, the Minnesota House is planning to take up the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act for a full vote. The bill, which has been vetted through the committee process with public input, enshrines protections for all reproductive health care, including but not limited to contraception, sterilization, preconception care, maternity care, abortion care, family planning and fertility services, and counseling regarding reproductive health care. Minnesota is fortunate to have our own state version of Roe v. Wade, called Doe v. Gomez. However, we know from the recent SCOTUS decision that court decisions are only as strong as the judges that uphold them. Adding this language into our state law gives Minnesotans additional statutory assurance that they will continue to have the right to make their own reproductive health decisions. As Americans and Minnesotans, we all want to be able to live a safe and healthy life and be free to design our own path, which is why I'll be supporting this measure. Keep in TouchAs I mentioned above, please reach out anytime with input or questions.  You’re invited to ‘like’ or follow me on my official Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates. If you know of anyone in our area who may be interested in receiving these email newsletters, they can subscribe here. Warmly, Lucy Rehm
State Representative "Darkness can not drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Dr. MLK Jr. Representative Lucy Rehm533 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 |