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Legislators in recess now is the time

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The Chamber Business Advocates met last Friday and has the opportunity to visit with Senator Jasinski after the regularly scheduled webinar on legislative business priorities. 

John provided us with the flyer on the link below to review his priorities for the remainder of the session.  He also mentioned how important it is to reach out to him now about things that are priorities for next session.  Legislators use the summer months to prepare for bills to be introduced.

The next webinar is scheduled for May 12 at 8 am at the Faribault Chamber.  All members are welcome.

Click here to read John’s message   Advancing MN

Here is the status of legislative priorities from the MN Chamber.

April 10, 2017

LAWMAKERS IN RECESS
The Minnesota Legislature is in recess, returning to the Capitol on April 17. This is an ideal time to talk with your legislators about the ways they can help to improve Minnesota’s economy and your business before they return to negotiate the final details of the budget and the 2017 session.

Be sure to thank those senators and representatives who have supported the business community by voting for our priorities so far. They are making a difference. Working together, we will ensure that Minnesota businesses are ready to compete – ready to change and grow in the global economy.

As of now, there are major differences in approaches to addressing the budget and $1.65 billion state surplus, as highlighted in the chart below. Governor Dayton is focused more on spending, while the Legislature is focused more on tax relief.

KEY MESSAGES FOR LEGISLATORS
With back-to-back surpluses, the state on solid financial footing, and no major omnibus tax relief bill or transportation bills with additional revenues passed since 2014, it’s time to invest in Minnesota’s economy and infrastructure!

BUSINESS TAX RELIEF
Minnesota businesses face among the highest tax burdens in the nation.

  • Use the budget surplus to enact strategic and meaningful tax relief by reducing business property taxes and removing the inflator, increasing the estate tax to the federal threshold, enhancing the research-and-development tax credit, and conforming to Section 179 business expensing.
  • Governor Dayton is proposing to use nearly 83% of the $1.65 billion surplus on new spending – growing general fund spending by more than 10%. The legislative budgets also include a healthy spending growth of 8% in House and 9% in Senate from Fiscal Years 2016/17 to FY 2018/19. We support the legislative approach which focuses more of the surplus on providing tax relief both for businesses and individuals. It is important to reduce Minnesota’s high cost of doing business by reducing uncompetitive taxes and keeping more dollars in the private sector so employers can reinvest in their employees and businesses.

TRANSPORTATION
All Minnesotans need a safe and efficient statewide transportation network to support the movement of people and commerce.

  • It’s time to pass strategic and sustained investment in our statewide infrastructure. Ask your legislators to be sure to support a plan that funds roads, bridges and transit – for Greater Minnesota and the metro area.

Real ID
Effective January 1, 2018, Minnesotans will need Real ID to access federal buildings and federally regulated air travel.

WORKPLACE MANDATES
Support Uniform State Labor Standards.

  • This would explicitly preempt local governments from enacting their own minimum wage laws and mandates on private businesses including predictive scheduling and paid sick and safe time.
  • The only thing worse than state government dictating one-size-fits-all mandates is for local governments to do so.
  • Creating a hodgepodge of laws among cities and counties would be an administrative nightmare for employers.
  • Today’s worker shortage demands that employers voluntarily offer expanded wages and benefits to attract and retain employees – so there’s no need for inflexible government mandates.

LAWSUIT REFORM

Minnesota businesses are being targeted by a small group of attorneys over alleged technical violations of accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Minnesota Human Rights Act.

  • Pass legislation that businesses must first be notified of the alleged violations before being sued.
  • Businesses should have the ability to fix a problem that they often are not aware of. If the violation is not fixed within a specified time, a business should be subject to the full force of the law.

EDUCATION/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Minnesota is facing a shortage of teachers.

  • Support legislation that will simplify the current teacher licensure system by providing a tiered structure.
  • A consolidated licensing system will take an important step in helping to recruit and prepare diverse and effective teachers.

Minnesota needs the most effective teachers in every classroom.

  • The existing LIFO – “last in, first out” – policy protects teachers with the greatest seniority, with no regard to performance, when school districts have to make layoffs.
  • Give local school districts the flexibility to consider teacher performance when making layoffs.

Early education scholarships

  • Voluntary prekindergarten program in schools are part-time and part-year, which will not meet the needs of every family.
  • Target scholarships to those families with the greatest need and allow them to pick a program that meets quality standards and best meets their needs.

ENVIRONMENT
Minnesota businesses continue to be frustrated by the length of time and the cost to process environmental review documents and obtain permits.

  • Support efforts to further streamline the process while ensuring protection of our environment and natural resources.
  • Allow businesses the opportunity to access a strengthened expedited permitting process that encourages production schedules and cost assurances for permit applicants.