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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It's been another busy week and we've alternated between unseasonably warm weather to our normal frigid January. Welcome to Minnesota for anyone new!
This week wrapped up most of the overviews in committees and we will soon begin to hear bills. Over the next few weeks I will provide you with highlights on key bills that come before us in committee for debate and consideration. Remember this is a budget year and our number one job is to craft a two-year balanced budget as we face a current deficit. Additionally, my priorities are to help our state move past the pandemic and rapidly increase the vaccine rollout, to get businesses fully re-opened, and to get our kids back in school for face-to-face learning.
I hope to be able to get out and enjoy some of our great local restaurants this weekend now that indoor dining is open. Have a great weekend!
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Online Inquiry Process Available for COVID-19 Business Relief Payments
Last week, the Minnesota Department of Revenue sent out the initial round of COVID-19 Business Relief Payments to nearly 4,000 eligible businesses across the state. This program, part of a bi-partisan COVID-19 relief legislation passed in December, offers direct relief payments to eligible restaurants, bars, gyms, and bowling centers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Businesses that did not receive a COVID-19 Business Relief Payment but think they meet the program criteria can contact the department using their online inquiry process that is now available through Friday, February 5, 2021. Businesses can use this if their business either:
- Did not receive a COVID-19 Business Relief Payment but they think the business met the program requirements.
- Received a COVID-19 Business Relief Payment but they think the amount was wrong.
Businesses can find this online inquiry process by visiting revenue.state.mn.us and clicking “COVID-19 Business Relief Payments” found on the homepage.
Eligible businesses must meet the program requirements outlined in the legislation. Direct payment requirements for businesses include:
- Being located in Minnesota
- Had at least $10,000 in taxable sales in 2019
- Filed Sales Tax returns in 2019 and 2020
- Experienced a 30% drop in year-over-year taxable sales for April-September periods
- Being categorized by the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance program as a restaurant, bar, gym, bowling center, or similar business
Direct funding to all of Minnesota’s 87 counties was also provided to set up local COVID-19 grant relief programs. Businesses not eligible for a direct payment from Revenue are encouraged to contact their local county for additional COVID-19 relief.
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California Cars Standard
On Tuesday, the MN Pollution Control Agency kicks off their California Cars push that would put CA in charge of deciding which cars are available in MN. This ruling would raise the cost of new cars by $1,000 or more. Even worse, the administration is pushing this expensive regulation as an “administrative rule” - thereby circumventing the legislative process, and your voice, once again.
This week, both the MN Corn Growers Association and the MN Soybean Growers passed resolutions in opposition to these California Car standards.
The MN Pollution Controls Agency will have hearings on this proposal, and are soliciting public comments. Follow this link for more information on the hearings. Rulemaking: Clean Cars Minnesota | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (state.mn.us) The hearings are Feb 22 and 23rd.
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Peaceful Transition of Power
I will restate what I said on January 6th The violence that took place at the US Capitol earlier this month is not American, patriotic, or representative in any way of my Republican values. Peaceful protests are protected speech and are an important part of our democracy. Storming the Capitol and disrupting the constitutional duties of Congress is not “peaceful” or acceptable. I condemn such violence on all levels. An election in our country cannot be over-turned by force; that is not what we stand for.
I was glad to join with every single member of the Minnesota House Republican Caucus denouncing the violent actions and violent rhetoric in Washington, DC and in St. Paul. You can read that letter here.
The election was officially certified by Congress.
The peaceful transition of power has taken place and President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office on Wednesday. Although I may have policy disagreements with this new administration, I congratulate our new president and vice president and hope that our country can move forward.
Some Minnesotan’s still have concerns about our election practices, particularly with the changes made due to the pandemic— especially when these changes were made with court decrees rather than coming to the legislature to make new law. Our legislature met monthly during 2020 and we were more than willing to work with the Secretary of State to give him the tools he needed to conduct our elections safely during the pandemic.
Accepting the results of the election and the reality that President Biden is now our new President doesn’t mean that we are disregarding the importance of making sure our elections are conducted freely and fairly. Free and fair elections are a hallmark of our democratic process.
There is work to do to restore election integrity and the voters’ confidence in our system. That bipartisan work with honest, fact-based discussions needs to begin immediately.
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Vaccine Update
The rollout of vaccines across Minnesota continues and is accelerating, now having passed 250,000 Minnesotans who have at least received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The news and guidance is changing daily while we receive new information on what vaccines are available to us and the updated guidance from the CDC. You can keep up to date by visiting the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine dashboard here: mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/data/index.jsp
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STAYING IN TOUCH
As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding any issue, please contact me. You can reach me at rep.barb.haley@house.mn or 651-296-8635.
Sincerely,
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/RepBarbHaley
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239 State Office Bldg.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-8635
rep.barb.haley@house.mn |
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