Cold Weather Rule
I would just like to encourage all area residents to contact their utilities now to learn more about the Cold Weather Rule that protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off during the winter months.
This rule takes effect on October 15 and continues through April 15, 2018. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: November 1, 2017”
Property Tax Payments Due October 15, 2017
I would just like to remind everyone that the last day to pay the second half of your real estate taxes is Monday, October 15th, unless part of the parcel is classified 2a agricultural land. For more information on Property Taxes click here.
Minnesota Economic Forecast
Yesterday the state finance agency, Minnesota Management and Budget released their quarterly economic update which shows the state took in $66 million (1.4%) less than originally anticipated from July through September. The tax collections for the state are down, but a more comprehensive report that takes spending patterns into account is due in late November.
You can find more information on the Economic Forecast here. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: October 11, 2017”
Dear Neighbors,
As many of you have heard in the news Equifax, one of the three main credit reporting companies, recently experienced a major data breach. The breach exposed personal information, including the Social Security numbers of about 143 million people in the United States.
Now scammers are attempting to take advantage of the breach. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be part of Equifax, do not believe them. This is a total scam. Equifax will not call you out of the blue. These scammers will ask you to verify your personal information. Do not give them any information and instead just hang up the phone. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton (SD37) Update: September 19, 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. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: August 9, 2017”
STORM DAMAGE UPDATE
I hope everyone stayed safe in the storm this weekend. I know that some people experienced damage to their homes, property or automobiles from high winds and hail. The Department of Labor and Industry sent out a Press Release today reminding people to be careful when hiring a contractor to fix storm damage. You can find the release here.
The cities of Blaine and Coon Rapids also have some good information on their websites about cleanup and hiring contractors. You can follow these links for information about Blaine or Coon Rapids. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: June 12, 2017”
Friends and Neighbors,
As you may have seen in the media, it has been a busy couple of weeks in St. Paul. All major budget bills passed the House and Senate in the last week of session. A 3-day special session was necessary for this to happen, however.
Governor Dayton has signed all the budget bills into law. In some last-minute scuffling, he line-item vetoed all funding for the Legislature. He was angry that Republicans placed an unseen provision in the State Government bill which forced him to sign the Tax bill. A link to the Governor’s letter explaining his line item veto is here. I am hopeful this will all be settled in the next few weeks. Although, there may be another short special session to get everything resolved. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: June 1, 2017”
Budget Negotiations Tense From the Start
With just over two weeks left to negotiate a more than $40 billion budget for the next two years, there is a wide gulf between House and Senate Republicans and DFLers. Caucus leaders from both parties met behind closed doors with Governor Dayton this week to outline a framework to begin budget negotiations.
Before numbers can be agreed to, Governor Dayton has made it clear Republicans must remove the more than 600 policy provisions currently in the budget bills. These provisions run the gamut from halting any future light rail projects to limiting the department of agriculture from governing the use of harmful pesticides to eliminating 40-years’ worth of campaign finance reforms. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: May 5, 2017”
Disagreement at the state legislature is expected. Republicans and DFLers have a lot we don’t agree on – and that’s no secret. But usually, there are at least a few small areas in which we typically see eye to eye. Taking care of our veterans and active military personnel is one of them.
In fact, just a few weeks ago I was part of a group of bipartisan legislators raising awareness about a new tax benefit available to veterans. And last year I was proud of my work with Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) to help end homelessness among Minnesota Veterans with the Cottages of Anoka project. We were able to secure a $100,000 appropriation for the Cottages in last year’s supplemental budget. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: April 28, 2017”
A bill that strips power away from local governments passed the Senate on Thursday by a thin party-line vote.
I am strongly opposed to this legislation because it takes away local control from our communities and strikes down worker protections and benefits for 150,000 hardworking Minnesotans. The preemption measure bans local employment regulations on minimum wage, unpaid leave and scheduling requirements. The state legislature’s job is to set minimum standards, not maximum standards. We should not be restricting the authority of local governments to implement what is best for their communities. This bill strips away local decision making power and will hurt working families. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: April 21, 2017”
Dear Neighbors,
After last week’s recess to observe the Easter and Passover holidays, the Legislature is back in St. Paul for the final five weeks of Session. Conference Committees have been appointed to compare the differences between the Senate and House versions of budget bills. It is my hope that reasonable budget proposals that work for all Minnesotans will be brought forward for a vote before the April 28th deadline.
As we move forward with our work, Representative Erin Koegel and I want to give community members an opportunity to share their viewpoints and ask any questions about what’s happening at the Capitol. You’re invited to attend a Coffee and Conversation meeting this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Sticks and Stones Restaurant located at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine. Everyone is welcome, and I hope you can attend. Continue reading “Sen. Jerry Newton Update: April 19, 2017”
