It’s easy to say I care or I understand but to actually have experienced so many of the same challenges my constituents have faced has been a tremendous blessing. Mom and Dad met at Camp Shamineau, Mom was a camp counselor and Dad managed the work crew. Together they dreamed of coming up north, growing their family and building log homes. In 1978, my folks left the security of Dad’s Union carpentry job and moved from Bloomington to Motley to live that dream.
The transition happened while I was only a year old so country living is the life I understand. I attended middle school at Motley Staples Elementary and after moving to the Brainerd area in 1991, I was able to learn the family business while earning my AA degree in business management at Central Lakes College during my Junior and Senior year.
Keri’s family was on a similar path that would ultimately end in Brainerd but at the opposite end of the state. International Falls was home and her dad was a Millwright, the Bemidji plant was the next stop followed by Trus-joist McMillan in Deerwood. Keri was my sisters friend and we were introduced to each other at the Sunshine Christian Music Festival in Willmar 1998, all that year we dated and returned to Sunshine the following year to finish out our honeymoon.
Well my sister and I haven’t always been the best of friends but I will be forever in her debt for bringing along the love of my life and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. With the recent addition of Troy during this last session, our six children are the greatest blessing I could have ever hoped for and have certainly inspired us to work towards a great future here in Minnesota.
During my first term as state representative our family has been so blessed to serve you. Throughout the last two years there have been countless opportunities to carry the concerns and needs of the lakes area to Minneapolis. From your 2nd Amendment rights to further working to protect our lakes and rivers, I have fought to protect your rights and grow the most recreationally diverse county in the state.
While growing up in the Brainerd area our family struggled like so many others, building a business, finding health care, and at times even being able to afford groceries. Keri and I understand the challenges families face and recognize the vital role the state maintains and the cause and effect that provides those resources for public use.
Tax dollars don’t grow on trees, individuals and businesses have carried that burden time and time again to the breaking point. As your state representative, I have fought tooth and nail to find efficiencies in government and simplify the regulatory climate allowing the business you own or work for to thrive and individuals to keep more of what they earn.
Accomplishments
Supporting our Veterans
I authored a bill signed into law by Governor Dayton that provides a full exemption of veteran retirement benefits from state income tax.
I am truly honored to have carried this legislation that represents an effort that was at least two decades in the making. Thanks to this bill, nearly 18,000 retired veterans living in Minnesota will no longer pay state income tax on these benefits.
For me, getting this done was not only the right thing to do for our veterans, it was the right thing to do for our state. Military retirees are well educated and equipped to start second careers, with many having taken advantage of educational opportunities during their time in service. This is a huge win for veterans in Minnesota.
Prioritizing Minnesotans
I worked hard this biennium to prioritize issues important to you and your family.
- Enacted reforms to improve aging adults’ quality of life and care
- Invested funds directly into our classrooms and promoted school choice through early education scholarships
- Expanded broadband to deliver high-speed internet access to underserved communities
- Increased protections for the unborn
- Strengthened 2nd Amendment rights
- Stopped tax increases on doctor visits and insurance premiums
- Increased oversight of MNsure and created a waiver from Obamacare
Tax Relief
I voted in support of nearly $1 billion in tax relief over the next three years including more than $500 million in ongoing and permanent tax cuts. The bill was broadly bipartisan and passed with 89 percent support of the entire legislature.
Unfortunately Governor Dayton vetoed the bill, making it the most bipartisan tax bill vetoed in the last 30 years. Provisions in the bill included:
- Tax relief for Farmers
- Increases in Local Government Aid
- Relief for college graduates
- Property tax relief for small business
- Tax relief for working families
- Expanding the childcare tax credit for families
Roads and Bridges
State government does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending priorities problem. That’s why I continue to support a transportation plan that funds our road and bridge needs by reallocating already existing transportation related taxes.
Unfortunately this plan did not become law due to the Governor and DFL’s insistence on the largest gas tax increase in state history.
Simply put, the state has the resources to fund our roads and bridges without a new and harmful gas tax. Let’s get it done.
Protecting Aging Seniors Quality of Life
Last year, I helped pass generational reforms to the way we fund nursing homes. These important reforms provide a permanent solution to funding challenges facing our rural senior care centers.
In total, $138 million will be invested in rural nursing homes by changing the way the state reimburses facilities. Increased funding will help secure better wages for caretakers as we look for ways to maintain outstanding care for our seniors.
This content was originally published at https://joshheintzeman.com/