Dear Neighbors,
I'd like to wish everyone a happy and blessed Easter! I hope you enjoy the holiday, spending time with your friends, family and loved ones.
Survey
For those who haven't done so yet, my 2015 Legislative Survey is available to take online. Your input is valuable to me, and I'd like to hear from you about important issues being debated at the Capitol this session.
Click on this link to take my legislative survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Kiel2015
Your feedback is appreciated!
Budget Targets
Last Tuesday, House Republicans unveiled their budget targets for FY2016-17 with the goal of funding Minnesotans' priorities while still ensuring government spending does not grow faster than your family budget.
For the next biennium, House Republicans want to spend just under $40 billion, contrasting Governor Dayton's plan to spend $43 billion. Additionally, Republicans want to return $2 billion to Minnesotans through tax relief and put $100 million in the budget reserves.
I am pleased that this budget prioritizes important expenditures like education, roads and bridges, and protecting our seniors while also lessening the tax burden for hardworking taxpayers.
In the coming weeks, House fiscal committees will be passing comprehensive omnibus bills that specify spending for each area of state government based on these budget targets.
The Road and Bridge Act
Also last week, House and Senate Republicans released a future-looking 10 year, $7 billion transportation plan that will repair or replace more than 15,000 lane miles and 330 bridges. Most importantly, this plan makes substantial infrastructure improvements without raising the gas tax or any other taxes or fees on hardworking Minnesotans.
Named The Road and Bridge Act, this proposal will prioritize our road and bridge infrastructure through highway improvements for commuters and commerce, and through the immediate repair of roads in communities of all sizes statewide.
Especially in Greater Minnesota, the condition of our infrastructure is vital for folks who drive to work and their children to school. Spending on metro transit has increased 88 percent over the past decade while road investments have only increased 35 percent, disproportionately funding infrastructure in the metro as compared to rural communities. The Road and Bridge Act ensures cities and towns, including those in rural and outstate areas, receive the transportation funding they need to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure.
Furthermore, unlike Governor Dayton's gas tax plan which would cost every Greater Minnesota driver an average of $180 more per year, the Republican plan pays for road repair by rededicating transportation related taxes to our roads, by using a portion of the surplus and by reining in wasteful spending through MnDOT efficiencies.
The principal takeaway from The Road and Bridge Act is simple: it prioritizes Minnesotans' demand for improved infrastructure without taking more from taxpayers.
I will keep you updated on The Road and Bridge Act as it moves through the committee process in the coming weeks.
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If I can ever assist you or your family on a matter of state government, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. I am here to serve you!
Have a great weekend!
Deb
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01B