Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are in the midst of a real Minnesota winter! We've stayed hard at work in Saint Paul hearing bills in committee and meeting with constituents. I hope you stayed warm and safe on the roads! Have a great weekend!
Sexual Harassment Bill in Committee
This week the Judiciary and Civil Law Finance Committee took up an important bill to address sexual harassment in the workplace (HF 10). While there is broad bipartisan support to ensure victims of sexual harassment receive their day in court, and that employees are free from harassment, the proposed language would change 33 years of case law without providing a clear new standard. During the committee hearing, I was able to ask a number of questions of the bill's author to clarify her intention to preserve the "reasonable person" and the "totality of the circumstances" standards. I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that employees are protected and when it is proper for an employer to be held accountable for the actions of an employee.
Housing Report
Minnesotans pay far more to build a new house when compared to homeowners in other states. These are the findings by the Housing Affordability Institute from its new report: The True Cost of Minnesota’s Broken Housing Market.
This report shows regulations in our state are putting a strain on Minnesota families by artificially increasing the costs of building a home. While Minnesota is a great place to live, there is simply no reason a new home should cost tens of thousands of dollars more in Minnesota than it does in Wisconsin. We need to address the regulatory issues that are making home ownership out of reach for too many Minnesota families.
The report detailed numerous land and regulatory policies that are driving up costs for new home construction in Minnesota, resulting in homes costing tens of thousands more in Minnesota than in Wisconsin and other surrounding states. One example found that the same home in Lake Elmo, Minnesota costs $47,000 more than an identical home in Hudson, Wisconsin, just ten miles away.
According to the report, virtually every requirement in our region costs more than our Midwestern peers: Met Council growth boundary policies, infrastructure upgrade costs, stormwater regulation, building code, energy code, park dedication requirements, sales tax, permits, water/sewer connections, zoning requirements, escrows, and more.
Things I Didn't Know!
Note: there was an issue with the link in last week's "Things I didn't know!" Here is the correct link for finding Unclaimed Property: www.missingmoney.com/ Good Luck!
According to the Investor Protection Trust Elder Fraud Survey, one out of every five citizens over the age of 65 has been victimized by financial fraud, but only one of every 44 cases is actually reported. If you or a loved one can report suspected financial fraud to the Dept. of Commerce Consumer Helpline at 651-539-1600 or 800-657-3602 (Greater Minnesota) from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. You can get more detailed information on this important issue by checking out the Dept. of Commerce's Hang Up on Fraud Toolkit
Photos from the Week
Paul Bunyan's Axe made an appearance around the Capitol grounds this week
Rep.Robbins meeting with constituents in her office this week on a variety of issues
Please Contact Me
Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any legislation put before the House or any other matters to which I can be of assistance. You can set up a time to visit me at the Capitol by calling me at 651-296-7806 or by email at rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn. My office is located on the second floor of the State Office Building in room 225.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve! Have a great weekend!
Kristin