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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope everyone had a fun Halloween night! The trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood were adorable and having fun, despite the cold!
Next week, we have several important municipal and school board elections in our communities. You can find out what elections are taking place in your area here and which school districts are asking referendum questions here. You can find your polling place here. Make sure to verify your polling location before going to vote as it may have changed.
Several school districts in our community will have ballot questions relating to additional levies and/or bonds. You can view a list of school districts in #37A with their ballot questions here.
Early voting has already started and election day is Tuesday, November 7th.
I hope everyone participates in our local elections this fall!
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Executive Summary
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Paid Leave Actuarial Study
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Public Comment Period Open for Met Council Budget
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Update on State Office Building Renovation
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Earned Sick and Safe Time Updates
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House Internship Applications Closing Soon!
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Paid Leave Actuarial Study
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently released an actuarial analysis of the Paid Family Medical Leave program that passed last session. The study showed that the tax rates will need to be even higher than projected, as House Republicans had warned when the bill passed last spring.
The study shows the program will cost at least an additional $600 million within the first three years, with the tax rate being 31% higher by year two.
Democrats irresponsibly rushed to pass their paid leave bill without knowing how much it would actually cost. Republicans offered a voluntary paid leave plan that would have provided employees and job creators with affordable and flexible benefit options. This study shows that we need to revisit the current paid leave plan and explore different ways to support Minnesota families.
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Public Comment Period Open for Met Council Budget
The Met Council recently published their proposed 2024 budget. They are considering adoption of a $1.42 billion budget – an 8.39% increase from 2023's figure! As a reminder, the 2023 budget marked a 7% increase over 2022.
Residents of the metro area cannot afford the Met Council's out of control spending. 39% of the Met Council's revenue comes from the state. That number is projected to be over half a billion dollars in 2024. Last session, the legislature passed a Motor Vehicle Sales Tax increase – 6.5% to 6.875% – to fund the Met Council, in addition to other state appropriations and a regional sales tax. This gives Minnesota the 5th highest motor vehicle sales tax rate in the U.S. This is an incredible amount of money for an unelected body to oversee.
The Met Council has been plagued with mismanagement for years. The greatest example of this is the Southwest Light Rail Project which is now nearly $400 million over budget and years behind schedule. The Legislative Auditor has released several reports on the mismanagement of this project, highlighting larger issues with the Met Council. Until this body can prove to be an effective steward of taxpayer dollars, they should not increase their operating budget by such a staggering sum.
The Council will be adopting the budget at their December 13 meeting. If you would like to submit a comment, feel free to call 651-602-1000 or send an email to public.info@metc.state.mn.us by 5:00pm on Wednesday, December 13. You can also submit comment in person at the December 13 meeting. More information on that meeting and how to register to speak can be found here.
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Update on State Office Building Renovation
Last month, I shared with you a letter that I sent to Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell urging them to halt the sale of the bonds to pay for the remodel and expansion of the State Office Building. Despite House Republicans urging them to pause the project, the state borrowed $454 million at the end of October to finance the renovations. The Minnesota Reformer has a good story on the sale of the bonds and includes my letter to the Governor and Commissioner which you can read here.
It is unconscionable that we would borrow nearly half a billion dollars to renovate an office building which is only fully occupied for 5 months each year. Families are facing higher prices for gas, groceries, and energy bills. Instead of supporting family budgets, Democrats spent the entire $17.5 billion surplus last year and then passed $10 billion in tax increases to fund a 38% increase in state government. Recent data already shows an additional $2 billion surplus for next year. Minnesotans are overtaxed at a time when their budgets are stretched. We cannot keep growing government at the expense of families.
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Earned Sick and Safe Time Updates
Thank you again to everyone who came to my event early last month to learn more about the new Earned Sick & Safe Time law! I continue to be in contact with job creators and the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) in preparation of this change. The Dept. still does not have templates available for this law, which takes effect January 1, 2024.
For those who still have questions about what these changes to the Earned Sick & Safe Time law will mean for you and your business, I'd encourage you to look at DLI's update FAQ page. This is best place to check for updated guidance as it becomes available, which you can find here.
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House Internship Applications Closing Soon!
Applications for the House Undergraduate Internship Program are open now through November 9! This is a wonderful opportunity for young people in our community to get more involved with public policy and government. House interns will be assigned to serve in a member’s office or participating department. While expectations and opportunities will vary from office to office, all House interns will be required to serve a minimum of six hours per week. House interns will also attend two formal educational meetings each week throughout the session.
More information on the program and how to apply can be found here. I hope to work with many students from our area at the Capitol in the next legislative session!
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Photos
Excited to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Spot by NutriSource in Greenfield! This amazing small business provides pet boarding and daycare, grooming and dog training to the public. Their deeper mission is to work with Soldiers 6 to train service dogs for Veterans & first responders.Thanks to KLN Family Brands Retail Store for investing in our community!
Another great ride-along in beautiful #37A with Medina Police Department! So thankful for the men and women who serve our communities with such compassion and distinction! I’m grateful for these opportunities to learn!
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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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