Sen. Jerry Newton Update: August 9, 2017

I hope you’re enjoying your summer and are looking forward to the Minnesota State Fair!

I’ve spent the first week in August at two conferences with other legislators from around the country.  First, 128 state legislators from 36 states came together as the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) in Cambridge, MA.  The goal is to bring Democrats and Republicans together to work on policy solutions to combat climate change, remove toxins from drinking water and consumer products, and conserve water. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined us as a partner in launching a database that will help state legislators learn from each other’s successes.

Then, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) met in Boston.  Hundreds of legislators from the United States and Canada have come together to discuss policy solutions to challenges that all states and provinces face in health care, criminal justice, and other areas.

Property Tax Refund Deadline Approaching

In Minnesota, many homeowners and renters are eligible for a property tax refund, but the deadline is fast approaching.

To see if you’re eligible for either refund, visit:http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/individuals/prop_tax_refund/Pages/Eligibility_Requirements_for_the_Property_Tax_Refund.aspx

And access refund forms here:http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/individuals/prop_tax_refund/Pages/Property_Tax_Refund_Forms_and_Instructions.aspx

The forms are easy to complete and generally don’t take very long to fill out.  Many people send these in with their tax filings in April, and if you did already, that’s great.  If not, file them soon – the deadline for both refunds is August 15th.

Capitol Grand Reopening This Weekend

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there will be a wide variety of events at the Capitol to mark the grand reopening since its multi-year renovation. For a full list of events, visit: https://mn.gov/admin/capitol-grand-opening/

I will be in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning at 9:00 am. I hope to see you there!

Anoka County Community Water Meeting

The League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region, along with the Anoka County Water Task Force, Anoka Conservation District, Anoka Ramsey Community College, and Anoka Technical College are excited to invite you to a Community Water Meeting to have your voices heard regarding the future of our lakes, rivers and drinking water.

Mark your calendars to attend the August 29th, 7-9 PM event in the Legacy Room, Anoka Ramsey Community College to share your opinions, connect with local resources in water management, and enjoy some light refreshments.

For more information and a complete rundown on the “25 by 25” event, click on: https://www.eqb.state.mn.us/25by25

As always, please contact me anytime with your input. I appreciate hearing from you.

If you have any questions or wish to unsubscribe from this Newsletter please feel free to contact my office at 651-296-2556 or by email at sen.jerry.newton@senate.mn.

Thank you,

Jerry Newton
State Senator
District 37