Dear neighbor,
We’re in the final stretch here of the legislative session. The legislature must adjourn by 11:59 p.m. on Monday. Given the fact the House has yet to take up many of the finalized budget bills from conference committee, I expect we’ll be in session long hours over the next few days.
Yesterday, House and Senate DFL legislative leaders announced a tax deal with Governor Dayton that imposing $2 billion of new taxes on hard-working Minnesotans. The details of the plan are not yet in bill form, but include higher income taxes, a $1.60 increase on cigarettes, and increased taxes on some business-to-business transactions. The hard-working taxpayers of Minnesota pay enough to the government. Imposing higher taxes is the wrong direction for our state. You can count on me to vote against raising higher taxes on Minnesota families.
Today, the House debated an $800 million bonding bill. Generally, bonding bills – where the state borrows money and creates debt – are reserved for even-numbered legislative sessions. Unlike most bills that need a simple majority to pass, bonding bills need a super majority of 60% of the votes in the House to pass. That means 81 members would need to vote for it. Given the fact there are currently 73 Democrats and 61 Republicans in the House, Democrats needed 8 votes from Republicans to pass this bill. I was unconvinced it was the right time to vote for bonding before we have a finalized budget. Enough of my Republican colleagues agreed and the bill failed to garner enough support to pass. We shouldn’t borrow before we budget.
Tomorrow, the House is planning to take up the childcare and personal care attendant unionization bill. I firmly oppose this proposal to unionize in-home small business owners and those who care for the elderly and disabled. I know many opposed to this legislation plan to come to the Capitol tomorrow. If this is an issue important to you, you’re more than welcome to come down to the Capitol on Saturday.
As always, I can be reached via email at rep.steve.green@house.mn. To contact me by phone, call (651) 296-9918. Mail can be sent to Rep. Steve Green, 231 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Steve