Hello from the State Capitol,
Car tab fees are on the rise, and people are getting very frustrated by the escalating costs.
This week, I learned from a driver that it will cost her more than $800 to put new tabs on her three-year-old Jeep. Across the border in Wisconsin, tabs for her Jeep would cost $85.
The Minnesota House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee recently debated legislation that would bring Minnesota’s vehicle tab fees back to pre-2023 levels. In 2023, Governor Walz and a Democrat-led legislature changed the vehicle tab fee formula and effectively raised rates by 20%.
The bill debated by the committee would have dropped the rates on both newer and older vehicles. Doing so would have provided nearly $1 billion in tax relief to drivers.
All Republicans on the committee supported the measure. All Democrats voted against it.
NONSENSICAL COLLECTOR CAR PLATE RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED
Speaking of vehicles, the state representative who talked of quintupling vehicle tab costs now is taking aim at people who own collector cars. Her legislation would prohibit the car owner from driving that vehicle unless it was during daylight hours on the weekends.
Talk about restricting freedom.
As the owner of a collector car myself, know I am strongly opposed to this measure. I fear it’s a ploy to force owners to buy regular plates and pay more to enjoy driving them.
BANNING ATV’S ON STATE LAND?
A bill is moving forward in the Minnesota Senate that would ban motorized vehicles on state owned land, meaning such things as prohibiting ATV’s from traveling on currently designated trails.
I believe one of the best ways to get kids off electronics is to have them safely drive ATV’s and enjoy nature. Minnesota already has hundreds of thousands of acres that are completely protected from any motorized vehicle. Once again, politicians – many of whom have never sat on an ATV much less driven one - are looking to take away the rights of the law abiding. This is a solution in search of a problem, and a bad one at that.
IMPORTANT ANTI-FRAUD MEASURE FINALLY MOVES FORWARD
At long last, a plan to create an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that would investigate fraud in our state was approved in the House State Government Finance Committee this week. The legislation would give the OIG real investigative powers and enforcement authority, and most importantly, would not be controlled by the Governor’s Office.
CLARIFYING “KICKBACK” FOR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
This week I signed onto legislation that defines what a “kickback” is for the Department of Human Services. You may recall DHS ignored countless fraud cases because it claimed it couldn’t respond to kickback crimes. The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) blew that claim out of the water, finding that not only has it had both state and federal authority to handle kickback claims, but also the DUTY to investigate.
Despite this, several lawmakers are taking nothing to chance, and want it specifically spelled out in state law that DHS must investigate kickback complaints. The fact that the legislature needs to even address this is beyond disappointing.
VISITORS GALORE!
I’m not joking when I say thousands of people came to the State Capitol this week, and it’s so good to see. Whether it was school groups, the Minnesota Farm Bureau, or local housing advocates, it’s nice to visit with area residents and hear what’s important to them.
As with most spending items, from schools to nursing homes and everywhere in between, my goal is to not go to taxpayers for more money, but to ensure rural Minnesota is getting its fair share of what is already available. Far too often, the funds flow freely in the inner cities where similar organizations in Greater Minnesota struggle. I work hard every day to make sure our towns and townships aren’t being left behind.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, my door is always open. If you ever have any legislative questions, please contact me. I can be reached at rep.steven.jacob@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.2273.
Have a good weekend,
Steve