Interim Update Friends and Neighbors, Serving as your state representative is one of several responsibilities I’m proud to carry. Like many people across our district, I balance work, family, and service to the community each day. Outside of the Capitol, my wife and I are busy working and raising four children, which keeps us grounded in the everyday realities our neighbors face. I continue to practice law, serving small businesses and individual clients. I’ve also spent over a decade volunteering at our local food shelf, including the last several years as a board member, coach youth soccer, and stay actively involved in the communities I represent. That experience shapes how I approach my work at the Capitol. Minnesota has a citizen legislature, which means this isn’t intended to be a lifelong career. I bring the priorities I hear from parents, seniors, educators, veterans, nurses, child care providers, business owners, workers, students, and neighbors directly into the decisions being made in St. Paul. It is a point of pride for me that I represent everyone in our district, not only those who voted for me. We won’t always agree, but you can expect me to listen, work hard, and be honest about where I stand. That commitment is demonstrated by the dozens of town halls I have hosted and the legislation I have drafted with the help of many of you. As this summer continues, I want to update you on a few of the priorities I’ve been working on and the priorities I’ll continue pressing when the Legislature returns.  Standing Up for SeniorsMinnesota seniors have spent decades working, saving, paying taxes, and contributing to their communities. They shouldn’t be forced out of their homes because their property taxes keep climbing, and the state shouldn’t continue taxing Social Security income they’ve already earned. I carried legislation to cap property taxes and fully repeal Minnesota’s tax on Social Security. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues across the aisle remain far more interested in finding new ways to raise taxes, particularly in Hennepin County, than in providing meaningful relief to seniors and working families. Government can’t continue treating homeowners like an unlimited source of revenue. When property values rise on paper, families don’t suddenly have more money in their bank accounts. Seniors living on fixed incomes feel those increases immediately, and they deserve more than promises that the next tax increase will somehow solve the problem. I will continue working to make Minnesota a place where seniors can stay in their homes and remain close to their families.  Supporting Our Veterans and Their FamiliesMinnesota must do a better job of creating opportunities and providing support for veterans as they transition into civilian life, pursue new careers, raise families, and deal with the lasting effects of their service. I’ve drafted several pieces of legislation aimed at supporting veterans and their families, and I’ll continue working to build bipartisan coalitions around those efforts. Supporting those who served our country shouldn’t depend on party affiliation. It should be one of the clearest responsibilities we share.  Accountability for FraudThis year, I passed legislation extending the statute of limitations for fraud from six years to ten years, giving investigators and prosecutors more time to pursue complicated cases and recover taxpayer dollars. That was an important step, but stronger fraud laws won’t be enough if the people running state agencies are never held responsible for repeated failures under their watch. Minnesotans have watched enormous amounts of taxpayer money disappear through fraud, waste, and mismanagement, yet upper-level managers and commissioners continue to avoid meaningful consequences. Nobody appears willing to accept responsibility, and taxpayers are left holding the bill. I’ll continue advocating for my legislation that would hold upper-level managers and commissioners personally accountable when they ignore clear warnings or fail to properly oversee taxpayer-funded programs. Until there are real consequences for those at the top, the environment and culture within state government won’t change. Accountability can’t stop with the lowest-ranking employee or the person who gets caught cashing the check.  Delivering for Local InfrastructureOver the past three years, I’ve worked to secure more than $23 million in infrastructure funding for communities throughout our district, including Mound, Minnetrista, Excelsior, and Minnetonka Beach. These projects address essential needs such as drinking water, wastewater systems, roads, and other basic infrastructure. This is the kind of work state government should be focused on: helping communities complete necessary projects, protecting local taxpayers from enormous costs, and ensuring residents can depend on safe and reliable public services. I’ll continue pushing to make sure our district receives its fair share and that infrastructure dollars are directed toward genuine needs rather than political wish lists.  What Should Be Our Top Priority?As I prepare for the next legislative session, I’d like to hear directly from you. What should my highest priorities be moving forward? Please take a moment to complete my legislative priority survey and share the issues that matter most to you and your family. [Take the Priority Survey] I’ll also be hosting a town hall on August 12 at the Minnetrista Caribou from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to hear your priorities, answer questions, and discuss the issues facing our communities. Additional details will be shared soon. Because this is an election year, House rules prohibit members from continuing to send unsolicited legislative email updates through official accounts after the post-session deadline. As a result, this will be my final legislative email until after Election Day. Those rules limit when I can send a mass email, but they don’t limit my ability to serve you or hear from you. My office remains open, and I’ll continue assisting constituents and working on behalf of our communities. Please continue to call me directly at 612-615-8444 or email me at Rep.Andrew.Myers@house.mn.gov. |