Virtual File - Item

Text: Friends,

Minnesota's economic engine is getting revved up. In the last year, we've added more than 46,000 jobs, have a $1.2 billion surplus and can boast the fifth-fastest growing economy in the nation. But we can't rest on our laurels. We need to make sure that all Minnesotans - regardless of what part of the state they live - share in the economic boon.

That's why the House DFL introduced a legislative package this week targeted at Greater Minnesota.

It includes measures that will help ensure rural Minnesota can share in the prosperity that metropolitan Minnesota is experiencing.

We are making rural property tax relief a priority. We introduced legislation that will provide an additional $40 million in targeted property tax relief to Minnesota homeowners, renters and family farmers:

· Family Farmers: Although property taxes are expected decrease for homeowners this year, farmers will see property tax increases, driven by a 24% increase in market value. This bill provides $15 million in immediate property tax relief to more than 75,000 family farms. An average family farmer in Minnesota will see a total of $490 in property tax relief.

· Homeowners: This bill provides a one-time increase to further boost Homestead Credit Refunds in 2014. Each and every homeowner receiving a refund will see an additional 3% increase, providing $12.1 million in property tax relief to 500,000 Minnesota homeowners.

· Renters: This bill provides a one-time increase for all Renters' Credit Refunds paid in 2014. Each and every renter receiving a refund will see a 6% increase, providing an additional $12.5 million in property tax relief to 350,000 Minnesota renters.

· Counties: Last session the Legislature boosted state aid to counties by $40 million a year so counties could invest in infrastructure and services while relieving property tax pressure. Due to changes in population and land values, some counties did not fare well. This initiative would provide one-time aid to those 11 counties.

We also want to expand and improve access to high-speed broadband. It is another kind of infrastructure, and it is needed to build a strong rural Minnesota economy. And, just like roads and bridges, we need to invest in broadband. Too many in rural Minnesota do not have adequate access to broadband. How many creative, capable people are missing out on the modern economy because of that?

We needed to address economic development in rural Minnesota, and this package does that. The Grow Greater Minnesota Businesses program expands an existing small business revolving loan fund that offer loans and gap financing for small businesses in need of capital. There is a voucher pilot program to allow small and midsized companies to purchase expertise and services from universities, research institutions and consulting firms like Enterprise Minnesota.

One more piece of the legislation I'm excited about is the Farm-to-Food Shelf program. The pilot program was a success, so we're seeking to appropriate $1.5 million to distribute "surplus" agriculture crops to food shelves across the state. Producers and growers will donate surplus crops to Second Harvest to distribute to food shelves and then be reimbursed for the cost of harvesting and packaging.

Protecting domestic violence victims

I want to thank the Mankato Free Press for its March 14 editorial in favor of my bill that would allow law enforcement to use GPS to protect the victims of domestic violence.

Ramsey County is using GPS technology in a pilot program. It alerts authorities when alleged domestic violence offenders are getting too close to their victims. Participants in the Ramsey County pilot program report feeling safer because of the GPS tracking.

My bill doesn't make the program mandatory, but it does give judicial district the authority to plan and implement it.

It offers more protection for victims than a court-ordered restraining order. I agree with Ramsey County Attorney John Choi, a supporter of the program, who said a no-contact order is just a piece of paper while a GPS anklet is a constant reminder to the accused that the police are monitoring him.

The news is filled with tragic stories of women being stalked and killed by someone already accused or convicted of abusing them. This proposal is something we can do to protect them better.

Have you signed up yet?

March 31 is the deadline for signing up for health insurance through MNsure, Minnesota's health insurance exchange. If you fail to do so, you may face a fine.

More than 125,000 Minnesotans have already signed up for high quality, low cost health insurance through MNsure.

All plans sold through MNsure cover preventive care, doctors' visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, ER services, maternity care and more. Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied, and there are no lifetime limits on coverage. Financial assistance is available to help pay monthly insurance premiums. A single individual earning up to $45,960 a year or a family of four earning up to $94,200 a year could qualify.

After a rocky start, most of the kinks with the MNsure website have been addressed and fixed. The average phone hold time is less than 60 seconds, down from an hour in December. There are nearly 170 agents taking calls. That's up from 67 in December. There are now 50 staff members whose job it is to help consumers with IT issues manually enroll in MNsure. The success rate for online eligibility determinations is 98 percent.

A lot of folks have tried to argue that, because the problems with its rollout, MNsure has been a failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Minnesota is in a better position than states like Wisconsin that accepted the federal health exchange. Our rates are the lowest in the country. MNsure bronze, silver and gold plans cost less than the average bronze plan in other states. Rates are higher for consumers in states like Wisconsin that chose to use the federal exchange. Late in October, a report found that insurance premiums in the Wisconsin insurance marketplace averaged up to 99 percent higher than premiums in Minnesota. That's a difference of $1,800 a year!

Don't wait until the last minute. Sign up at www.mnsure.org.

Tax tips

With the income tax filing season in full swing, the Minnesota Department of Revenue is offering helpful tips for taxpayers when filing their income taxes. The department encourages taxpayers to choose Direct Deposit, allowing for a safer and faster refund.

An important note: On Friday, the Senate and House passed and Governor Dayton signed a $430 million tax cut bill. This bill may affect how much of a refund you receive from the state.

If you have not filed your tax return, the Department of Revenue is asking that taxpayers wait until Monday to file. If you have already filed your taxes, the Department of Revenue will examine your return to see if you qualify for these tax cuts and notify you if they need more information or if you need to file an amended return.

It also offers these useful tips:

· Enter your name and any dependents names as they appear on Social Security cards. Incorrect names or Social Security numbers can result in refund delays.

· Double-check bank routing and account numbers used on tax forms. Incorrect account numbers can delay your refund.

· Complete each form and carry totals to the correct lines. If you electronically file, the calculations are done for you.

· If you move after filing, contact the Department of Revenue right away. That way anything sent to you will reach you, such as refund checks or requests for more information. You should do this even when requesting direct deposit.

· You should file the return by the April 15, 2014, due date, even if you owe more than you can pay. You can use our new online system to set up multiple payments with different due dates. Pay as much as you can by the due date, and continue to make payments until you receive a bill from us. When you receive the bill, contact us and we can help you set up a payment plan for the remaining balance.

· Do you qualify for free electronic filing? To see if you qualify to electronically file your income tax return for free, click here. Be sure to access the software products from our website to file for free.

Clark Johnson represents District 19A in the Minnesota House. Reach him at rep.clark.johnson@house.mn.