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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Bob Dettmer (R)

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Legislative Update

Friday, February 13, 2015

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Here is an update from Saint Paul.

Pay Raises for Commissioners

The legislature was recently informed that Governor Dayton approved significant pay raises for his political appointees and commissioners, many of whom are already making six-figure salaries.

These raises of between 19 and 58 percent will cost taxpayers at least $1.6 million over the next two years and don’t reflect the priorities or the realities of average Minnesotans. These salary increases were made by the governor without public input and were allowed because of a law passed last biennium by the DFL-led legislature and signed by Governor Dayton.

The legislature will be having more hearings on these unnecessary pay raises in the coming weeks.

HF 137

This week, my bill allowing income exemptions for military retirees was heard by the House Taxes Committee and laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. I think this bipartisan legislation would be a wonderful way for Minnesota to attract more second-career retired military men and women to our state, and I am hopeful it will be signed into law this year.

Additionally, on Wednesday the Star Tribune published an editorial I wrote about the need for our state to exempt military pension taxation and how it would benefit Minnesota. You can read it here.

HF 133 for VFW Audits

Earlier this session, I introduced HF 133, a bill that will increase the threshold for IRS audits for VFWs offering lawful gambling, increasing the amount from $750,000 to $1 million.

Many of these VFWs are small and mandatory financial audits are very costly, even when there is no fault.  This is a commonsense bill that will help local VFWs across Minnesota.

If you have any ideas for legislation or input on what’s happening at the Capitol, I welcome you to contact me this session. I am here to serve you!

As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of being your state representative.

Sincerely,

Bob