Minnesota House of Representatives

Rep. Drazkowski: Action awaits budget targets

May 11, 2016

With roughly two weeks remaining in the 2016 legislative session, we are once again in a holding pattern when it comes to the two most significant areas of discussion – tax relief and supplemental transportation funding. This is because we do not have budget targets. At this stage of the game,...

Drazkowski: More freedom means more tax revenues

Apr 20, 2016

On April 11, the Minnesota House took the rare step of trying to eliminate an antiquated law in the interest of personal freedom. Enjoy it while you can, as it doesn’t happen often. Much like Sunday liquor sales, when it comes to purchasing and using fireworks, Minnesota’s government tends to...

Rep. Drazkowski: Enhanced drivers licenses are a way to protect privacy while complying with federal law

Apr 13, 2016

On March 29, the Minnesota House of Representatives took the first step towards allowing REAL-ID-compliance, which would permit Minnesotans to legally board a commercial airplane beginning in 2018. A law passed in 2008 prohibited Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety from even discussing REAL...

Letters: Grateful to legislators for support for childhood health

Apr 13, 2016

To the editor: We want to thank State Rep. Tim Kelly and State Sen. Matt Schmit for meeting with us and local volunteers recently to discuss ways to increase active living and physical activity among Minnesota youth. As part of the Minnesotans for Healthy Kids Coalition Day at the Capitol, we...

Rep. Drazkowski: I disagree with Gov. Dayton on surplus spending

Mar 31, 2016

Recently, Minnesota’s state economists projected that our state would have a $900 million budget surplus to allocate before the 2016 legislative session ends. Because of this, Gov. Dayton recently released a supplemental budget proposal outlining what he’d like to do with this money. In short, his...

Rep. Kelly: Tax relief should trump spending of projected surplus

Dec 17, 2015

The arrival of December means different things for different people. Nearly everyone recognizes this time as the beginning of the holiday or Christmas season. But inside the State Capitol, early December marks the time where the first piece or our upcoming session’s roadmap session is unveiled –...

Drazkowski: Citizens should find out why property taxes are rising

Dec 3, 2015

Recently the Minnesota Department of Revenue released the preliminary property tax levies set by locally elected officials. The news is not good for property owners, as they show a $422 million property tax levy increase statewide – a 5.35 percent increase. Specifically this number includes: $186...