Capitol Review: Bill to Eliminate Sales Tax For Local Government Purchases

Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Northfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Here’s what’s happened this past week with bills authored or co-authored by local legislators:

State Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25) of Madison Lake

• Authored a bill to eliminate sales tax for purchases made by local government bodies, including counties, cities and townships. If passed, the legislation would go in effect June 30. SF0371 was introduced Feb. 17.

"This is good government," DeKruif said at a press conference last week. "The old way of doing business was a big government way of thinking."

For more, watch the attached video.

• Work continues on these bills, which DeKruif previously authored or co-authored: a bill that would modify the Minnesota rural preserve property tax program (SF0298); a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor (SF0201); a bill that would change eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance for minors of business owners (SF0114); a bill that would provided a phased-in subtraction for military retirement pay (SF0041); a bill that would abolish prohibition of certificate of need for new nuclear power plants (SF0004); a bill that would restore the Green acres and agriculture classification to pre-2008 (SF0002).

• DeKruif serves on the Education Committee, Jobs and Economic Growth Committee and the Transportation Committee.

 
State Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B) of Belle Plaine

• Work continues on these bills, which Woodard previously authored or co-authored: a bill that would streamline revenue for health and safety programs, relating to education finance (HF0420); a bill that would allow students who perform well at public schools that consistently underperform to enroll at a private school with financial assistance from the state. There are several requirements needed to make students eligible, such as the child's family income being equal to or less than 175 percent of the federal income level (HF0273); a bill that would require photo identification to vote (HF0210);

• A bill that would limit funding for abortion for state-sponsored health programs, unless required to continue in federal programs (HF0201); a bill that would change the language of the basic skills test aspiring teachers are required to take to earn their licenses. The wording would change from "successfully complete" to "pass"(HF0183); a bill that would delay charter school authorizer approval from June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2012 (HF0134);

• A bill that would change the language of insurance coverage of dependents of a deceased peace officer or firefighter (HF0149); a bill that would introduce "Choose Life" license plates (HF0091); a bill that would repeal the political contribution refund (HF0066); a bill that would restore the Green acres and agriculture classification to pre-2008 (HF0012); a bill that would establish a Healthy Minnesota contribution program, redesigning service delivery for lower-income MinnesotaCare enrollees (HF0008); a bill that would abolish some local government mandates (HF0007); a bill that would increase the penalty for those convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (HF0006).

• Woodard is vice chair of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. He also serves on the Education Finance Committee and Education Reform Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "Lunch with Belle Plaine City Planner@Annie's. Great discussion on future of MN cities and returning local control. I luv this town!#mnleg"

• Woodard's Twitter handle is @KelbyWoodard

State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) of Farmington

• Introduced a bill that would offer the presidency to the candidate who receives the popular vote, rendering the Electoral College obsolete. The bill, HF0495, makes its way to the house floor annually, yet never makes it to the Governor’s desk despite broad, bi-partisan support.

• Introduced two bills that would appropriate more than $3 million toward projects around Lake Byllesby in Cannon Falls. The first bill, HF0490, would appropriate $1.5 million through a bond sale to complete the Lake Byllesby Dam spillway project. The second bill, HF0491, would appropriate another $1.5 million for a pedestrian bridge to span the Cannon River in Lake Byllesby Regional Park.

• Work continues on these bills, which Garofalo previously authored: a bill that would reinstate a general education aid reduction for certain taconite distributions. HF0306 was introduced Jan. 31.; a bill that would require photo identification to receive Minnesota Family Investment Program assistance and would restrict users from using monthly cash payments to purchase tobacco, alcohol or lottery tickets (HF0171); a bill that would exempt pet sales from sales taxes (HF0036); a bill that would amend teacher licensure provisions by establishing an alternative teacher preparation program that allows eligible individuals to acquire a two-year limited-term teaching license (HF0063), a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor (HF0068).

• Garofalo chairs the Education Finance Committee this session. He also sits on the Redistricting Committee, Taxes Committee and Ways and Means Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "I might go 2 Madison today 2 protest the fact that the deadbeats in Wisconsin owe MN $58 million dollars. #PayUpOrDaytonMightSeizeHudson"

• Garofalo's Twitter handle is @PatGarofalo

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville

• Authored a bill that would limit the availability of evidence derived from a collective law process, in the court room for civil and criminal proceedings (SF0344).

• Authored a bill that makes statutory conforming amendments relating to civil actions. The bill also makes assignments for receiverships and creditors. (SF0352).

• Work continues on a bill authored , which passed the senate on Feb. 10. The bill, SF0056, passed 36-29, and prohibits school districts from raising wages in new two-year contracts with teachers, and other employees, though it does not affect contracts already in effect.

The bill also prevents school employees from striking to demand more pay.

Many critics say the bill takes local control away from school districts. But during debate on the floor last week, Thompson said “local control is not real."

A similar bill is making its way through the house.

• Thompson serves on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Education Committee, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, and State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "President's "budget cutting." Check this out. http://tinyurl.com/64dbe44 Why do I think Gov. Dayton's budget will show similar restraint?"

• Thompson's Twitter handle is @ThompsonSenate