REP. PEPPIN: 2014 SESSION A MIXED BAG OF SUCCESSES AND SETBACKS

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Scaled back tax increases, quicker commutes on I-94, 494 and Highway 610, and bigger tax refunds are some of the highlights of the 2014 legislative session, according to State Representative Joyce Peppin. The lawmaker from Rogers says she and her colleagues championed a balanced approach to legislating that focused on needs, not wants, after a historic tax-and-spend budget was signed into law last year by Gov. Dayton.

“The state’s $1 billion surplus provided us an opportunity to scale back some taxes, invest in priorities, and return some of those dollars to hardworking families in the form of bigger tax refunds,” said Rep. Peppin, who voted at every turn to give back the surplus to taxpayers. “However, it was disappointing that instead of recognizing the surplus as an indication that Minnesotans were overtaxed from the policies enacted in 2013, the legislative majority viewed it primarily as an opportunity to spend more.”

As a member of the House Tax Committee, Rep. Peppin helped repeal three job-crushing business-to-business tax increases that were signed into law last year. She also championed initiatives that help small businesses grow and succeed.

“I believe in creating a competitive business climate where entrepreneurs and innovation can flourish and create stable, good-paying jobs,” said Rep. Peppin. “We should be supporting the needs of our state’s small businesses, not penalizing them.”

Rep. Peppin fought to end wasteful spending, standing against a new $90 million Senate office building, speaking out in committee and voting ‘no’. Peppin also voted against a legislative commission intended to raise legislative salaries, and opposed the additional wasteful spending of hundreds of millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

“Hardworking families, especially those with young children, need to spend their resources on critical or everyday goods and services, not bigger government,” said Rep. Peppin, noting that government spending under one-party control of the legislature is set to grow three times faster than the economy. Overall spending increased by more than $1,500 for every man, woman, and child in Minnesota.

“With the troubling news that Minnesota experienced its fourth consecutive monthly budget shortfall and shed over 4,000 jobs in the month of April, it’s conceivable we will continue to see a reduction in tax revenue because fewer people are working,” said Rep. Peppin. “Our year-to-date budget shortfall is now $95 million due to these large spending increases. If present trends continue, Minnesota will be running a sizable budget deficit once again. If that happens, will the DFL seek yet another tax increase?”

Rep. Peppin and her Republican colleagues also pushed for cost-effective, patient-centered health care—instead of a bigger, more expensive bureaucracy. She voted to bring transparency, accountability, and cost savings to MNsure, Minnesota’s extension of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”).

Thanks to efforts led by Rep. Peppin, area legislators, and local leaders, residents can expect additional lanes, congestion relief, and improved safety for I-94 between Rogers and St. Michael, a new lane on 494 between Plymouth and Maple Grove, and the opening of Highway 610 from County Road 81 to I-94 in Maple Grove.

“These critical infrastructure improvements will help alleviate the daily headache and economic burden caused by traffic congestion,” Rep. Peppin said. “I look forward to the benefits associated with these expansion projects, including spending less time in traffic and increased opportunity for competitiveness for area businesses.”

Rep. Peppin also continued to advocate for equitable funding for area schools. “Our schools still receive less in K-12 funding than schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. That’s not fair. All children—regardless of zip code—deserve a quality education that allows them to compete in today’s global economy. We’re making progress, but more work needs to be done,” said Rep. Peppin.

Though session has ended for the year, Rep. Peppin continues to be a strong voice for the northwest suburbs. She can be contacted at her St. Paul office. She can be reached at rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn or 651-296-7806. Mail should be sent to Rep. Joyce Peppin, 281 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

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