Legislative Updates From Rep. Sarah Anderson

The following is a round up of the past month's legislative updates from State Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-43A):

Job Growth

• Four bills passed the House with bipartisan support that are designed to curtail lawsuit abuse and create a more job-friendly environment in this state. The Pacific Research Institute cites Minnesota as one of the worst states in the nation for its lawsuit system because it allows for frivolous and abusive lawsuits.  Unchecked, lawsuit abuse costs consumers like you billions of dollars in higher prices for goods and higher insurance premiums. Our reform measures will provide balance and clear out bad actors so we have a business climate that can support job growth.

• Governor Dayton vetoed all four lawsuit reform bills that passed the Legislature with bipartisan support. These reforms were sought by 67,000 job providers and 45 regional Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations. Lawsuit abuse drives up the cost of doing business and is a barrier to job growth in Minnesota.

Property Tax Relief

• We heard a bill in Tax Committee that  will phase out the Statewide Business Property Tax. Minnesota is in the top 10 for highest business property taxes - a deterent for job creation. The bill also provides more property tax relief to homeowners through the Property Tax Refund (PTR) program.     

Reporting Welfare Fraud

• I have worked on a bill which will help the Department of Human Services track down welfare fraud and abuse passed the House Public Safety Committee.

Protecting Great Teachers

• Seniority should not trump student achievement. Under current law, however, teacher layoffs, firings, and promotions are based solely on seniority. House File 1870 changes the law to include teacher performance. This legislation passed the House with bi-partisan support. I voted for the bill.

The Budget

• In just one short year, we went from a $5.1 billion budget deficit to a $1.2 billion state budget surplus. My Republican colleagues and I worked with Gov. Dayton and pushed for wise fiscal management. Our work is paying off. Our economy is growing and that means more jobs for Minnesotans.   

Budget Surplus By the Numbers:  

• $323 million additional budget surplus for the current biennium

• $876 million budget surplus reported in November

• $1.2 billion total budget surplus  

How Did We Get Here:  

• State spending down $578 million

•Stronger than expected revenue growth - $93 million in new revenue

• 2.1 percent economic growth in 2012 and 2.3 percent growth in 2013

• Minnesota's unemployment rate is falling faster than national average.  Our rate is 2.4 percent lower than the nation.   "Consumers appear to have more confidence in the future than they did last fall"  

Where the Surplus Money Will Go:  

• $350 million to replenish cash flow account

• $653 million to replenish budget reserve

• $318 million to pay back education shift

Legislative Redistricting

As Chair of the House Redistricting Committee, last week was an exciting one for me. The five judge redistricting panel released the new maps for legislative and congressional districts across the state. 
 
If you remember, the House and Senate passed redistricting maps last May.  However, the Governor vetoed those maps. I personally reached out to Gov. Dayton and Democrats in the House and Senate to try to get a map the Governor would sign. However, none of them were interested in passing a map through the legislative process. So the five judge panel issued the new lines.
 
Plymouth is divided in four ways.  You can view the new maps by going to the links listed below.
 
The area I represent can be found here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Legislative/L2012/maps/house/44A.pdf
 
The companion House seat to the area I represent can be found here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Legislative/L2012/maps/house/44B.pdf
 
Plymouth residents living east of Zachary Lane and north of 36th Ave can see their new map here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Legislative/L2012/maps/house/45A.pdf
 
Plymouth and Medicine Lake residents living south of 36th Ave and centered around Medicine Lake can see their new map here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Legislative/L2012/maps/house/46A.pdf
 
For Congressional districts, Congressman Erik Paulsen will continue to have Plymouth and Medicine Lake in the third.  You can view that map here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Congressional/C2012/maps/03.pdf
 
You can see the statewide maps for the Legislature and Congress here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Legislative/L2012/maps/house/statewide.pdf
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Congressional/C2012/maps/statewide.pdf
 
Not sure what new district you will be in, go here:
 
http://www.gis.leg.mn/redist2010/Legislative/L2012/openlayers/index.php?plname=L2012
 
I was on the television show Almanac. You can view the Feb. 24 video on my comments about the entire map here:
 
http://www.mnvideovault.org/index.php?id=23120&select_index=0&popup=yes

(The preceding information was provided by press releases and email updates from Rep. Anderson's office.)