Dear Friends,

We have completed the second week of the 2020 legislative session, and it’s fair to say, we are off to a busy start. This week we had our first two committee meetings for E-12 Finance and Policy and our first Higher Education committee hearing. The highlights of the week were meeting with the many constituents, and groups, who stopped by to say hello and share their support or concerns for an issue in front of the Legislature.

On Monday, we had the opportunity to hear testimony from formerMinnesota Supreme court Justice Alan Page, and Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari on their plan to address the education achievment gap in Minnesota.

The report, “A Statewide Crisis: Minnesota’s Education Achievement Gaps Demand a Bold Approach,”which was done by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, captures the data and information which we have unfortunately known for decades. Minnesota does really well when it comes to education results generally across the board, but unfortunately we continue to have some of the largest education achievement gaps in the nation measured by race and socioeconomic status. Gaps in standardized test scores and college readiness have increased over time and while gaps in graduation rates have decreased, Minnesota is graduating an increasing number of students who are unprepared for college.

Justice Page and President Kashkari are proposing a constitutional amendment to enshrine education as a civil right. The amendment would update the current constitutional language to state that all children have a fundamental right to public education as measured against uniform achievement standards.

On Wednesday we heard testimony on school enrollment counts data as well as testimony from TEAM Academy and a number of school districts from across the state.

The Senate Taxes Committee did not meet this week. Our first committee meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, February 27.

On Tuesday, we held our first Higher Education Finance and Policy committee hearing for the 2020 legislative session. This informational hearing was an opportunity to hear from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system on their bonding requests for the 2020 capital investment bill.

Presenting for the University of Minnesota were President Joan Gabel, Dean of Medical Schools Dr. Jakub Tolar, and students from the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. Minnesota State was represented by Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, Kent Hanson, President, Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College, and Brian Yolitz, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities.

This week, Senate Republicans introduced our plan to return Minnesota’s budget surplus to taxpayers. The Get Your Billion Back plan contains more than $1 billion worth of tax relief for Minnesota taxpayers. Among others the plan calls for reducing the bottom income tax rate, totally eliminating taxes on Social Security income, and expanding the K-12 income tax credit.

The reduction of rates will greatly benefit lower and middle-income workers and this will also mark the second year in a row Senate Republicans have reduced income tax rates. In addition, expanding the K-12 credit will specifically help parents of school-age children save money when they file their taxes. More families will qualify for the expanded credit, and those who do will also see larger savings on their tax returns. And, addressing an issue I have worked hard on during my time in the Senate, by finally eliminating the tax on Social Security Income we will incentivize seniors to stay in Minnesota where they have spent their lives and raised their families. Minnesota is one of only 13 states to continue to tax social security income.

Our tax plan will also be a great benefit to small businesses owners by giving them more flexibility to deduct large equipment purchases by fully conforming to Section 179 of the federal tax code. Our plan will help stimulate Minnesota’s economy and allow for financial relief to families across the state. Hopefully we can work with our friends across the aisle in a bipartisan way to get something done for the taxpayers of Minnesota.

For more information on the tax relief proposal, click here.

On Thursday, it was great fun to represent the Senate Republican Caucus in the Minnesota Grocer Association Bag-Off. This annual event helps to highlight the Bag Hunger Campaign, a social awareness campaign thatreaches across the state through a unique partnership to promote a proactive approach to end the problem of hunger.

I want to congratulate Speaker Melissa Hortman who took first place in the competition, but the real winners of this friendly competition are the food charity organizations and the people in need they support. Second Harvest Heartland received a donation of $5,000 from the Grocers Association, and all the participants received $500 dollars to donate to the food charity of their choice. Despite the crushing defeat, I am proud to send the $500 to the Interfaith Outreach Food Shelf in Plymouth.

Thanks to the Minnesota Grocers Association for another great Bag-Off and more importantly for their commitment to fighting hunger!

One of my favorite constituent meetings of each session, Keira made her annual President’s Day trip down to the Capitol to sell girl scout cookies for her local troop in Plymouth. Join me in supporting our amazing young entrepreneurs in our communities.

Thank you to all the physical therapy students and professionals from Plymouth and Minnetonka who stopped by to say hello and advocate on behalf of the Minnesota Physical Therapy Association. This is a great experience for Physical Therapy students to come to the Capitol, learn about, and advocate for, the issues impacting their industry.

On Wednesday, I met with Minnetonka Fire Chief John Vance and Hamel Fire Chief Jeff Ruchti to discuss issues important to the Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association during their Fire Service Day at the Capitol. Plymouth Fire Chief Roger Coppa was planning on attending but spent the day assisting the terrible fire up in Becker. So grateful to all the men and women who serve in our fire departments in our communities.

Jean, Oksana, and Ciara stopped by to discuss issues in front of the Legislature concerning the Minnesota Pharmacy Association. Once again, an opportunity for two Pharmacy students to learn more about the legislative process and advocate for issues important to their industry.

It was great to meet Dr. B. Chisom Nwokocha, from Plymouth, who owns dental offices in Brooklyn Park and St. Cloud, and focuses his practice on serving low income patients.

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter. As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office with any concerns about legislation in front of the Minnesota Senate, or any any state issues we can help with.

Sincerely,