Education Tax Credits + Supporting Long-Term Care Residents

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March 5, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Legislature has been very busy as we approach the first committee deadline next Friday (3/12.) Although there haven’t been many bills on the floor yet, most committees are meeting on additional days and in the evening in order to get through all the bills. Unfortunately, very few of the bills being heard in any committee are from the minority. I will have one of my bills heard on 3/16, but none of my other hearing requests have been granted thus far. I will keep trying!

Executive Summary

• Senate hearing on education tax credit
• Letter with Sen. Housley supporting long-term care residents
• Tax exemption for PPP loans
• Civic engagement
• Name a snow plow contest
• Maple Grove scholarships

Senate hearing on education tax credit

On Thursday the Senate Tax Committee held a hearing on the Senate companion to my bill (HF 153), which would expand the current education tax credit and deduction for K-12 expenses. Families have had many additional education expenses with distance learning this year and the amounts of the credit and deduction have not been increased since 2001 – 20 years! It is time to increase the amounts and to allow low-income families to be able to use their education tax credit for tuition – just like middle class families have been doing with the deduction since 1955.

I am thankful the bill was heard in the Senate and hope it will get a hearing in the House soon so we can provide this tax relief to families for education expenses over the past year and as they fund additional tutoring or enrichment programs to help their kids catch up over the summer!

Letter with Sen. Housley supporting long-term care residents

Seniors in long-term care (LTC) facilities have been through so much during the pandemic. They have experienced great isolation and it has taken a toll on their emotional and mental health. As more and more residents receive the vaccine, we need to review the guidance on long-term care visitation. 

I have heard from so many of you that are desperate to take your loved ones in LTC facilities out to church, for dinner, or just for a drive. With vaccinations being quickly distributed in these settings, seniors should not have to remain locked in these facilities. 

This week, Sen. Karin Housley and I sent a letter to Commissioner Malcom at the Minnesota Department of Health and Governor Walz, as well as to Director Martino at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, urging them to review current guidelines for LTC visits. We also copied the members of our Minnesota Congressional delegation, asking for their help on this at the federal level.

We requested that once seniors are fully vaccinated and they have waited 10 days for the vaccine to take hold, they should be allowed to leave their long-term care facilities if they choose to do so, and not be required to quarantine for 14 days when they return.

As of Tuesday (3/2/2021), 84 percent of nursing home residents and 89 percent of assisted living residents in MN have received their first dose. 69 percent of nursing home residents and 63 percent of assisted living residents have received their second dose. It is likely that all seniors who wish to receive the vaccine will be able to do so by the end of next week. 

It is time to update the state and federal guidance on allowing seniors to leave their LTC facilities. Although most facilities have resumed in-person visits in the facility, many seniors long to go outside for a visit, to see first signs of spring, or to go for a meal in a restaurant. A visit with family outside of their facility will bring such joy and hope to them.

I promise to keep fighting for our seniors. Families have sacrificed so much this year, it is time to update the guidance to reflect the new reality as the great majority are vaccinated.

Tax exemption for PPP loans

In last week's newsletter I highlighted the issues with current Minnesota tax law recognizing forgivable federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as income. The legislature needs to act quickly on tax conformity. Businesses rightly spent their PPP loans to keep their workers employed and on overhead costs. WCCO did an excellent story on the Blue Plate Group. The popular restaurant group received a PPP loan but are now facing the potential of a nearly $400,000 tax bill if Minnesota does not pass this exemption. They cannot afford to now pay tax on a loan that has already been spent. 

With last week's news of a $1.6 billion surplus, there is absolutely no reason why we cannot move quickly to conform to the federal forgiveness of PPP loans. The Senate is expected to pass a bill next week and Gov. Walz has already signaled his support for exempting PPP loans. Without legislative action, Minnesota would be the only state in the Upper Midwest to impose these taxes on businesses. The House needs to act fast so that businesses can have reassurance that their PPP loans are forgiven ahead of Tax Day on April 15. 

Civic engagement

One of the great privileges of serving as a legislator is seeing ALL of the many wonderful groups that serve our communities. As a conservative, I strongly believe that government isn’t, and shouldn’t be, the solution for every problem. The most effective ways to help our fellow Minnesotans are often through local, community or faith-based groups that have relationships in the community and can stay involved. I was reminded of this again when I went to a meeting of the Rogers Lions Club this week.

Many of these local groups have kept meeting virtually throughout the pandemic and have continued to meet important needs in our communities. They are always looking to attract new members.

These groups are fun ways to meet new people, strengthen our communities and help our neighbors. When pandemic restrictions finally end, I know many people will be looking for new ways to reconnect and thought it would be good to share a list of groups in our communities you may want to get involved in. I’m sure all of them would be happy to have you check them out or call to find out more!

*Disclaimer – This is NOT an exhaustive list – just many groups I noticed in the local papers last week. If I am forgetting anyone, feel free to email me at Rep.Kristin.Robbins@house.mn and I’ll add them to next week's newsletter! In alphabetical order: 

Cross Services: https://crossservices.org/

Dayton Lions: https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/daytonmn/

I-94 West Chamber of Commerce: https://i94westchamber.org/

India Association of Minnesota:  www.iamn.org

Maple Grove Community Organization: https://mgco.org/meet-mgco/overview/

Maple Grove Lions:  https://www.maplegrovelions.org/

Maple Grove Rotary:  https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2186 ; Julie Kiernan 952-818-9100

Maple Grove Women of Today:  https://www.maplegrovewt.com/

Osseo-Maple Grove American Legion; http://www.legionpost172.org/  763-425-4858

Rogers Lions: http://www.rogersmnlions.org/

Rogers-Otsego-Dayton Women of Today: https://www.rodwt.org/

Name a snowplow contest

Even though winter is waning, MnDOT just announced the results of a fun contest they held this winter to name a snowplow! Minnesotans were able to submit suggestions and then vote on the 50 finalists. Eight winners were selected to be the names of new snowplows across the state. In order of votes, they are:

• Plowy McPlowFace - Metro District (special shout-out to former Elk River/Otsego Representative Nick Zerwas for suggesting this one! 😊)
• Ope, Just Gonna Plow Right Past Ya - District 4
• Duck Duck Orange Truck - District 1
• Plow Bunyan - District 2
• Snowbi Wan Kenobi - District 6
• F. Salt Fitzgerald - District 7
• Darth Blader - District 3
• The Truck Formerly Known As Plow - District 8

You can read the full list of 50 finalists here. Personally, I am little disappointed that "Mary Tyler More Snow" was not a winner, but I did vote for Plowy McPlowface, Plow Bunyan and Snowbi Wan Kenobi!

Maple Grove Ambassador Scholarships

The 2021 Maple Grove Ambassador Scholarship is opening applications this month. Those aged 17-21 are invited to apply if they live or work in Maple Grove or Osseo, are entering their high junior or senior year, or graduated from Maple Grove or Osseo area high school and are enrolled in post high school education. To find more information about the program, visit www.MapleGroveAmbassadors.com.

Three Ambassadors will be chosen for a year of service and will each receive a $3,000 educational scholarship. 

Photos

Had a fun constituent meeting discussing issues affecting businesses as part of MN Chamber Week at the Capitol.

Wore my Maroon & Gold for U of M Day at the Capitol on Thursday.

Thank you Sen. Justin Eichorn for carrying my K-12 education tax credit and deduction bill in the Senate!

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 matters to which I can be of assistance.

During the continuing COVID restrictions, the best way to reach me is by email:  rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked a couple of times/day. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Have a great weekend!

Kristin

225 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806