Dear Neighbors,
Recently our state budget officials told us we have a $1.4 billion budget surplus for fiscal year 2018-19. One of the reasons we have been able to keep consecutive surpluses intact can be found in DFL stewardship of previous budgets. Of this projected $1.4 billion surplus, $678 million is projected for the end of this 2016-17 budget cycle, which ends on June 30th of 2017. This means while we have extra money, excessive corporate tax cuts and disregard for future revenues can destabilize our economic future.
Minnesotans are working and earning more money, allowing our state's economy to continue to grow. We know from experience Minnesotans will need continued prudent stewardship of our budget in order to continue to provide future opportunities for all Minnesotans. I expect we all hear many ideas on what should happen next. What I expect from our leaders is responsible budgeting that makes working families a priority. We're all tired of hearing about special interests. My special interests are the people I represent who haven't been as lucky as we all wish. Any tax cuts should be directed toward the middle class, who pay the greatest burden of taxes in our state. Those families are the ones who are strapped with college loan debt, fear of unstable gas prices, and what could be on the horizon after our national election.
Minnesotans have always been leaders in looking out for our neighbors. We can and should continue to make our focus our families. Even though unemployment is at its lowest in years, not every family is seeing the gains. Health insurance companies continue to increase their premiums by double digits, making families feel like they are losing more than they have gained. I continue to advocate legislative leaders finally find a compromise to finish work that has been languishing for the last two years that will help our communities. We have a tax bill I would like to see passed that will continue to provide fuel for our district's economic development. We have a plan to provide relief to Minnesotans suffering from those drastic increases of premiums from health insurance companies on families. We also have languishing critical investment that provide numerous benefits that get more expensive by the month waiting for funding.
I’m hopeful this will happen soon. Some believe we can just wait until the next legislative session. Our families need this action before 2017 and the continued delays only hurt our families more.
On January 3rd I’ll join the Minnesota Senate and my office will be located in the Minnesota Senate Building.
Here is where and how you can contact me:
Senator Dan Schoen
95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 2413
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 297-8060
sen.dan.schoen@senate.mn
Isaac Russell is on staff and we’re already at work. We’re getting phones set up soon. In the meantime, if you need any assistance please email us to get the quickest response.
You can still call my House office or email there until the end of the year and Connor McNutt will coordinate with us at the Senate to make sure you get the assistance you need.
Sincerely,
Representative Dan Schoen
House District 54A
Grey Cloud Island, Newport, St. Paul Park, Cottage Grove and South St. Paul