A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

This week we heard several bills on the Senate floor including two significant bills: the Education Policy Omnibus bill and the Tax Omnibus bill. Both of which I did not support. The education bill was filled with questionable provisions that do not advance the education and well-being of our students.

Senate majority leadership waited until May 1 to release their first draft of changes to Minnesota’s tax code. This plan prioritizes corporations, which already got a 40% tax reduction as a result of the federal tax bill, allowing them to keep money parked overseas tax-free, and gives tax cuts to a handful of multi-millionaires. It also sets the state budget up for fiscal instability and ballooning budget deficits, threatening services for children, seniors, and Minnesota families. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: May 4, 2018”

Volume 4, Issue 9 — April 27, 2018

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

Curious as to what the Legislature is doing to align Minnesota’s tax code with major federal changes? So am I. The Senate Taxes Committee chair still hasn’t released a bill, with just three weeks left until the end of session. The House Taxes Committee chair finally released a plan this week and dubbed it the “Freaky Fast Bill,” admitting that the Legislature needs to move incredibly quickly to come to an agreement without risking automatic tax increases for at least 300,000 taxpayers.

The Governor’s plan has been out for nearly six weeks, and lawmakers have known since late December that this is a looming challenge. It is frustrating and disappointing that once again we are leaving the state’s most important business down to the wire.  A bonding bill is also yet to be introduced. A lot of work still needs to happen before we adjourn.  Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: April 27, 2018”

Volume 4, Issue 8

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

With just four weeks left in the 2018 legislative session, this week finally brought a handful of bills to the floor. Unfortunately, the bills had nothing to do with the major work left this session. In the nine weeks since session began, only three bills have been sent to the Governor’s desk.

There are only four weeks left and no tax conformity bill has been presented by the Senate majority. Tax conformity is important this year. By running down the time on even releasing their bill, majority leadership is gambling on passage. If the Legislature does nothing, taxes will go up for most Minnesotans. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen Update (SD49): April 20, 2018”

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

We are back from the legislative break. This past week we had two floor sessions that were mainly procedural. The two committees that I serve on, Taxes and Transportation, heard some bills this week.

In the Taxes Committee, we are still waiting to hear what the supplemental tax bill conformity will look like. Governor Dayton is expected to release the bill language by today. We will take up those provisions and testimony in committee next week. I look forward to delving into the details of the bill and working with my colleagues to find a thorough solution for Minnesotan taxpayers. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: April 13, 2018”

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

Today marks the end of the first phase of the legislative session with the second deadline. We start our Easter/Passover/Spring break this week and will come back on April 9^th to finish the 6 remaining weeks of session. We have tackled the state contracts and pension bills on the floor and discussed the constitutional amendment regarding dedicated revenue to transportation in committee. I was happy to co-author a bill (S.F. 3503) to provide a sales tax construction exemption for to the City of Minnetonka for a new police and fire public safety facility serving the district. This week I also had hearings on two bills, my Uniform Athlete Agents bill (S.F. 2399) in the Commerce Committee and a technical change to Sophia’s Law to ensure the intent of the law is clear before this boating season (S.F. 3380) in the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee. Lastly, I was part of a press conference on gun safety reform and I am hopeful that with your help we find the courage to have a bi-partisan debate on this most important issue affecting us all. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: March 29, 2018”

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

We have reached our first deadline this week! Bills need to have gone through the committee process in one body, House or Senate, in order to become viable to meet the 2^nd deadline next week in the remaining body. This week I had a hearing on my bipartisan tax bill to provide disaster relief to those impacted by the disasters of Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria. More details are found below.

Finally, the Senate passed a bill to attempt to resolve the MNLARS issue. As a member of the Transportation Committee, I was not supportive of this measure because I believe it falls short in either providing the tools necessary to adequately manage the progress or finding a long term solution to the ongoing system failures. I welcome your thoughts on this particularly troublesome launch. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: March 23, 2018”