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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I can’t believe it is the last week of August – where has the summer gone? I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather and all that Minnesota has to offer! My in-laws were visiting this past week, so we went to the State Fair, toured the Capitol, went to some great restaurants and had fun enjoying local parks and events.
I will be at the House Information Booth in the Education Building at the State Fair again on Friday, September 1st from 10:00-12:00 so if you are out at the Fair, stop by and say “Hi!”
I have been asked a lot of questions on the same few issues recently, so I wanted to provide a brief update on business mandates and taxes for everyone. Despite a $17.5 billion surplus, Democrats raised taxes by nearly $10 billion and enacted costly new mandates that will impact every family and business. Many Minnesotans are wondering how these new laws will impact their businesses and their family budgets. Keep reading below.
I hope you all enjoy time with your family and friends this Labor Day weekend!
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Executive Summary
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Helpful Earned Sick and Safe Time Information
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Where's the Tax Relief?
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Change in Law Impacting School Resource Officers
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Nursing Home Funding for Maple Plain
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Op/Ed on the Impact of Marijuana Legalizations
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Helpful Earned Sick and Safe Time Information
I've heard from several business owners who have questions regarding the new Earned Sick and Safe Time mandate, which takes effect on January 1, 2024. There are many excellent resources already available that I wanted to make sure you are aware of:
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The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has a wonderful page on all the changes that happened during the 2023 legislative session. They have a full implementation timeline as well as webinars that are available to their members on a variety of topics, like Earned Sick and Safe Time. You can find more information here.
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The Department of Labor and Industry also has a dedicated Earned Sick and Safe Time pages on their website. You can find more information about this change, eligibility, employer requirements, and more here and here. Unfortunately, none of the record-keeping or employee notice templates are currently available. I’ve contacted the Dept. of Labor & Industry to request that these are made available as soon as possible so businesses can be prepared.
In addition, I am hoping to host a webinar with officials in the Dept. of Labor in our district so they can ask specific questions. Stay tuned!
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Where's the Tax Relief?
A question I have been asked a lot lately is "What happened to the tax relief that so many campaigned on last year?" From $2,000 rebate checks to a full exemption of the social security tax, Democrats broke their promises last session.
The Democrat Majority rejected multiple amendments in the Tax Committee and on the House floor to eliminate the tax on Social Security. I serve on the Tax Committee and personally offered the amendment in Committee a few times and it was offered on the House floor multiple times. Despite campaigning on this issue, Democrats failed to enact it because they think it will be “too expensive." In other words, it will take too much money out of the state budget that they want to spend on other things.
Two weeks ago, the Dept. of Revenue began sending out rebate checks. Single filers making $75,000 or less will receive $260 and couples making $150,000 or less will receive $520. You can find more information about eligibility here.
If you are eligible and have not received your rebate check, you can contact a customer assistance representative at the Dept. of Revenue at 651-565-6595 or email mntaxrebate@submittable.com.
These rebate checks are far less than the $2,000 Governor Walz promised on the campaign trail last year. Because Democrats increased the state budget by 38%, AND spent the entire $17.5 billion surplus, AND raised taxes by $9.8 billion, there was little money left to give back to Minnesotans.
Democrats' spending is out of control at a time when families and seniors need to keep more of their own money. I will keep fighting to eliminate the tax on Social Security and roll back many of the taxes and new spending programs enacted this year. Minnesotans cannot afford it.
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Change in Law Impacting School Resource Officers
I’ve heard from many parents, teachers and school officials who are concerned about a change in state law that has led law enforcement and school districts to remove School Resource Officers from schools across the state, including in our community. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt recently announced that she will not allow SROs to work in Rockford Area Schools, which serves students from Corcoran and Greenfield.
School safety is not a partisan issue. Public officials from both parties have expressed concerns and I am urging Governor Walz to call a Special Session of the legislature so we can provide the clarity needed in statute to get SROs back in the schools. Students, teachers and families should not have to wait until we go back into session on February 12, 2024, to get this fixed. I coauthored a bill yesterday that would return SROs to the same rules they have operated under successfully for many years.
Without SROs in schools, valuable opportunities to build positive relationships with students are lost and students, teachers and staff are at greater risk if an altercation occurs and no one is on site with the training to intervene safely. Even in schools where SROs are still present, they will need to call patrol officers in to handle fights and other physical situations. The time lost while waiting for patrol officers to arrive could increase harm to students and staff unnecessarily.
All of us want students, teachers, and staff to be safe so that the next generation of Minnesotans can reach their full academic potential. Haphazardly passing laws that result in SROs being removed from schools will make students, teachers and staff less safe.
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Nursing Home Funding for Maple Plain
I am very pleased that Haven Homes of Maple Plain is receiving funding from the $300 million nursing home package that House Republicans fought so hard to deliver last session. Fifteen nursing homes have closed in Minnesota since 2021 and several more were on the brink of collapse. This funding is a critical lifeline to keep our nursing homes viable and our seniors in the places they have come to call home. I will continue to work with my colleagues to address the workforce challenges and reimbursement rate issues that are driving many of the struggles nursing homes are facing.
Over half of the $300 million in the funding package, $173 million, went to direct payments to nursing homes. The direct payments were based off a $225,000 flat rate, and an additional $4,016.51 per bed. The direct payments will be made in yearly installments on August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2024.
Haven Homes will receive a total payment of $482,057. On August 1, 2023, a payment of $241,028 was made, and another $241,028 will be received on August 1, 2024.
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Op/Ed on the Impact of Marijuana Legalization
In case you missed it, I had an op-ed published in Alpha News recently where I outlined the significant flaws with legalization of marijuana, including its impact on low-income communities. You can read my commentary here.
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Photos
Always fun to start the weekend in a dunk tank! 😍 It was an honor to be part of the Bellweather Community’s monthly gathering and help raise raise money for The Fly High Foundation in Corcoran with Mayor Tom McKee! It was a little chilly, but we had a blast with all of these fun neighbors! 🎉
Had a great day at the State Fair with my husband and in-laws, who came all the way from ME because they love our awesome State Fair! 😍 Had all of our favorites including Lefse, Walleye, Mini-Donuts, and Sweet Martha’s Cookies! End of an era - first time down the Big Slide (pictured below) without any of our girls in 25 years! Never too old for the Big Slide! 😊Amazing seed corn art and fun running into so many friends! 🎉
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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.
The best way to reach me while we are out of session is by email: rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn.gov. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked multiple times/week.
Have a great weekend!
Kristin
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239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806 |
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