Legislative Update - 2014 Session Underway

The 2014 Session is underway and I’m looking forward to working with you to build on the progress made last year. In the 2013 Session we balanced the budget and made historic investments in education — all-day K, early childhood, and a college tuition freeze — and job creation. Now our schools are paid back and thanks to our growing economy, we have a projected $825 million surplus. 

With Minnesota on sound fiscal footing for the first time in years, we need to stay focused on helping families and businesses who have not yet felt the economic recovery.

The start of session also means a new Legislative Survey is available, which you can find online here. Please take a moment and fill out the survey if you have time.

We hit the ground running on Tuesday, unanimously passing legislation increasing funding for those struggling to heat their homes. The bill would appropriate $20 million for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and any unspent funds as of June 30, 2014 would return to the General Fund. Cold weather combined with Minnesota’s propane shortage led to skyrocketing prices and increased applications for energy assistance. Without additional funding, the program will run out of money in March.

In our terribly cold winters, every Minnesotan needs to be able to heat their home, regardless of their financial situation. In Minnesota we come together to help those in need, and I’m glad we did so again.

As many of you are aware, I'm chief authoring legislation to repeal the warehouse tax. My bill was among those heard in the Tax Committee on the opening day of session and today the bill was included in a larger tax relief package that passed out of the committee. The bill includes $200 million in middle-class tax relief through federal tax conformity and repeals the business-to-business taxes. An Eagan business owner testified in committee about the jobs being lost due to the warehouse tax, and that’s why I’m working on this issue.

The full House will likely vote on the bill next week. We need to move quickly on this legislation as Minnesotans are filing their tax returns and the warehouse tax is set to go into effect on April 1.

This session I’m supporting an increase in the state’s minimum wage. Last session I voted for a House bill raising the minimum wage in increments to $9.50 for large employers and $8.50 for small employers.

Most of the people on public assistance programs have jobs and are getting paid the minimum wage, with many of them in the service, health care, and retail industries. By increasing the minimum wage, these families will have more money in their pockets and can hopefully get off public assistance, saving the state money.

Today, Minnesotans working the minimum wage are earning less in inflation-adjusted dollars than minimum wage workers in 1974, and only two states have a lower minimum wage than Minnesota. We have to ensure that hard work pays for all Minnesotans.

E-Cigarette Legislation

My legislation regulating e-cigarettes was heard in the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee on Wednesday. My bill would prohibit e-cigarettes in public schools, give municipalities more control in how they choose to regulate e-cigarettes, and would provide for harsher punishments for electronic cigarette retailers who sell the products to minors, among other provisions. Like regular tobacco products, we need to make sure e-cigarettes are not getting into the hands of minors.

Free File Program for E-Filing Tax Return

You may not be aware of this, but taxpayers with a 2013 Adjusted Gross Income of $58,000 or less may visit www.IRS.gov/freefile to prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns at no cost.

Free File is made possible through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a coalition of industry-leading tax software companies. Since its inception in 2003, the program has offered 70 percent of taxpayers free access to leading commercial tax preparation software from Free File Alliance member companies. Free File has already saved taxpayers an estimated $1.2 billion in filing costs.

I strongly encourage folks who are eligible for the Free File program in our area to take advantage of it.

To begin, taxpayers should visit the IRS website - www.irs.gov/freefile. You will find a list of companies and may either choose the one that fits their needs or utilize the “help me find a company” tool. After selecting a tax software company, you will be transferred to the company's website to prepare, complete and electronically file their federal income tax returns.

Thank you for the honor of representing you in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Laurie Halverson

State Representative

District 51B