April 30, 2013 From the office of

Senator John Pederson

Senate District 14 Serving Benton, Sherburne & Stearns Counties Office: 27 State Office Building, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

WEEK IN REVIEW
SENATE TAX PLAN Last week Senate Democrats unveiled the balance of their nearly $2 billion tax increase proposal. Details of the tax plan includes an expansion of the sales tax to everyday items like clothing, over-the-counter medications and auto repair, an increase in the cigarette tax, increased business taxes, and a $1.2 billion income tax increase by increasing the current 7.85% top bracket to 9.4% (a 20% increase). Also included was a new 13% sports memorabilia tax. While the income tax increase was widely anticipated, Senate Democrats opted to take a different approach with their third tier increase than the new fourth tier rate advanced by Governor Dayton. The Senate tax plan would create the highest middle class tax rate in the country, and impacts married filers at just over $140,000 and single filers at about $79,000 of taxable income. The Senate Omnibus Tax Bill (HF 677) passed on Monday after it was first defeated on a vote of 32 yeas 34 nays. In an unprecedented move by the Senate Democrats, the vote on HF 677 was reconsidered and subsequently passed on the second vote by a 3531 margin. My focus continues to be on creating a more efficient and effective government, not a more expensive government. Im working together with both Republicans and Democrats to eliminate wasteful government spending and helping to build a healthier economy for Minnesota. Weve seen more and more wasteful spending proposals, including SF 1525/HF1697 which appropriates $4,900,000 to the commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and authorizes the issuance of state bonds to predesign, design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip a Ski Hill and Golf Course Event Center at Giants Ridge. (See photo) Imagine working for a privately owned ski hill and having to compete with a state owned and funded ski hill. Hardworking taxpayers cant afford for government to waste their money. Before we ask for another cent, we need to go line-by-line through Minnesotas budget to ensure that government is as efficient and effective as possible. Lets cut wasteful spending. Lets spend better, not more. TRANSPORTATION Last Tuesday, the Senate passed the Omnibus Transportation Policy Bill (SF 1270), which includes numerous changes to traffic regulations. This would increase the default speed limit on two-lane state highways from 55 to 60 miles per hour, require MnDOT to sell unused parcels of real estate, and creates a MnDOT office to coordinate public-private partnerships. The bill

passed on a vote of 48-19. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Last Thursday evening the full Senate passed the Health and Human Services Omnibus Finance bill that spends $11.17 billion from the General Fund, which is an increase of 4.9% from current health and human services spending. JUDICIARY A bill that would require a conviction before someone's property can be judicially forfeited for controlled substance offenses and drive-by shootings passed the Finance Committee and now awaits further action by the full Senate (Thompson, SF 874). This change would put these crimes in line with all other judicial forfeiture, and would ensure that innocent people's property is not unjustly taken from them without their involvement being proved through a conviction or plea agreement. Another bill that also passed from the Finance Committee to the Senate floor this week enhances the penalties for murder or assault crimes committed against prosecutors and judges, who are typically on the front lines of justice being served to criminals (Thompson, SF 712). This amendment will put prosecutors and judges in the same class as police officers and prison guards, and the penalties for assaulting or murdering one of these individuals will have a higher sentence than would otherwise be the case. ELECTIONS The election bills create a two-week voting period, authorize Minnesotans to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse, and reform the way voter fraud is investigated and prosecuted. Campaign finance reforms, including changes to how campaign donations and contributions are reported, as well as changing the amount of allowable contributions and candidate expenditures in our state elections are included in another bill. Governor Dayton has made clear he will require bipartisan support for any changes to our election process so it is expected that the concerns express about these bills will be addressed in the near future. UNIONS For an interesting article from the Star Tribune on the gains made by unions during this legislative session, click here. (http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/204315171.html) I-94 UPDATE As a reminder, the I-94 resurfacing project began on April 1 with 24/7 single lane traffic between Clearwater and St. Cloud. Click here for more detailed information on the project. KEEP IN TOUCH During this legislative session we will work to keep you informed. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and neighbors, encouraging them to subscribe by going to my Senate page and typing in their email into the subscribe bar. The same process can be used to unsubscribe from this mailing list. Follow this link to subscribe. You can also e-mail my legislative assistant at emily.pugh@senate.mn to sign up. We will always welcome your ideas, questions, and comments. You can also find me on Twitter (@Senjohnpederson) and Facebook. Please call or write any time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our District in St. Paul! Sincerely, Senator John Pederson 27 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155 sen.john.pederson@senate.mn 651.296.6455 John Pederson