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 In Touch
 
   issues and updates:
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 March 20, 2008
 
 
 
 
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Dear Rachel,

The Legislature is on its spring holiday recess this week, returning to St. Paul next Tuesday, March 25. With all 201 legislators home in their districts, now is the perfect time to catch them for coffee, lunch, or a even just a phone call to express your thoughts and concerns at almost the mid-point of the session. Find out who represents you and how to contact them.

Read on for information on a new tax proposal and other legislation that could have a huge impact on your business, and, as always, keep reading In Touch each week to stay informed about state and local public policy issues.

Note: If you'd rather not receive this e-newsletter, please send an e-mail to kblandin@tunheim.com with "Unsubscribe from In Touch" in the subject line.

House Considering Bill Eliminating Corporate Tax Breaks

Accountant

A bill that cuts out corporate tax breaks was heard in the House Taxes Committee yesterday.
 
House Taxes Committee Chair Rep. Ann Lenczewski (D-Bloomington) is chief author of HF4103, a bill that eliminates a number of business tax preferences, reduces the corporate franchise tax rate by one percentage point, and repeals the corporate alternative minimum tax. For a detailed breakdown of the bill, including tax preferences, credits and exemptions repealed, view the House Research Bill Summary.
 
Committee members are questioning the bill; some are wondering how the governor could sign a bill that scraps JOBZ, a program he created and promotes. Others have asked whether getting rid of tax breaks would hurt the state by driving businesses to cut jobs or move elsewhere. (The Coalition of Minnesota Businesses does oppose this bill, and today issued an action alert for business leaders).
 
After the meeting, Rep. Lenczewski said there were major hurdles to overcome, but she hoped to build the omnibus tax bill around HF4103. The committee will take up the bill again after the Easter break, and TwinWest will be testifying on the various proposals.
 
If you'd like to share your thoughts and concerns on the bill and help shape the testimony TwinWest will be providing, contact Jason Flohrs, director of government affairs, at 763.450.2225 or jasonf@twinwest.com
Showdown Builds at Capitol Between Trial Lawyers, Insurers
GavelA bill that pits the insurance industry against trial lawyers - two of the Capitol's most powerful lobbying groups - appears to be headed for another showdown.
 
On Tuesday, the Senate passed an amended version of an insurance bill that includes a limit on damages and attorneys' fees, a move that was cautiously accepted by the insurance industry as a reasonable compromise. But the author of the bill, Sen. Tarryl Clark (DFL-St. Cloud), has predicted the provision will not make it into a final version.
 
Read the Star Tribune article.
 

April Legislative Breakfast Features U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad

U.S. Congressman Jim RamstadAfter more than 30 years of public service, U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad is retiring.

Join TwinWest on Friday, April 4 for our next Legislative Breakfast to hear Congressman Ramstad reflect on his years of experience and highlight key issues the business community and the nation are facing at home and abroad. Also, read TwinWest's interview with Congressman Ramstad in our April 2008 issue of Directions magazine, due out later this month. 
 
Please note: You must register by Friday, March 28 to save $10 on your admission.

April Legislative Breakfast
Friday, April 4, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
View event details and register online by March 28...

2007-2008 Legislative Breakfast series sponsor: Grand Casino Mille Lacs & Hinckley. A/V sponsor: Swank Audio Visuals. Recording sponsor: Comcast.

 

U.S. Senate: Poll Gives Coleman 10-point Lead
Senator Norm ColemanA recent KSTP-TV poll on Minnesota's U.S. Senate race shows Senator Norm Coleman with a 10-point lead over likely DFL nominee Al Franken. Read the Star Tribune article.
 
This news comes just days before Coleman officially kicks off his campaign (March 26) at his headquarters in St. Paul. Also, state DFL and union leaders have asked that a TV ad supporting Coleman, which is sponsored by an Iowa group, be pulled from local airwaves for its reference to the 35W bridge collapse. Read the Star Tribune article.
 
For more information on these news or events, or to get involved in the campaigns, visit www.colemanforsenate.com or www.alfranken.com.

Upcoming events:

 
TwinWest Emerging Leaders Philanthropy Event:
Soup's on & Surf's Up!
Thursday, March 20
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
ROI: Give back to the community by spending time with kids
 
Business Showcase at
Fuzzy Duck Design
Wednesday, March 26
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
ROI: Get inspired to build your network
 
Opening the Real Estate Door: Understanding Purchase Agreements and Related Legal Issues
Thursday, March 27
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
ROI: Learn how to avoid common pitfalls of purchasing property
 
Member Orientation
Wednesday, April 2
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Learn how to make the most of your TwinWest member investment and get a jump start on networking
 
St. Louis Park
Business Council
  Thursday, April 3
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Stay up to date on issues affecting your business and community
 
Minnetonka City Connection
Thursday, April 3
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Meet your neighbors and talk with city leaders, including Minnetonka Mayor Jan Callison
 
April Legislative Breakfast:
Conversation with U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad
Friday, April 4
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Hear firsthand Congressman Ramstad's reflections on his years as a public servant
 
Get details about and register for these and other events...
 
Quick links:
 
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   Current newsletter
 

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HENNEPIN COUNTY
 
 
 
STATE LEGISLATURE
 
 
 
TWINWEST LINKS
 
 
County, City and School News

Hennepin County:

  • Hennepin County will hold its 2008 State of the County Address on Thursday, April 10, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Best Buy Corporate Headquarters in Richfield. For more information, contact Cara Lee, Hennepin County Public Affairs, at 612.348.6883.

  • Jason Flohrs, TwinWest's director of government affairs, testified in front of the Hennepin County Board on Tuesday night, urging the commissioners to vote in favor of joining a metro-wide joint powers board and levy additional funds for transitway development. Hennepin County and six other metro area counties are expected to vote before April 1 in order to begin levying a ¼ cent sales tax July 1. 

Flohrs added a note of caution to his testimony: "Our support comes with the expectation that these new dollars will be used to move the transit system forward - not simply find a new way to pay for what we already have. This funding was meant to leverage federal dollars for construction of new infrastructure, and TwinWest members will continue to stay involved in the process to ensure that is what happens". Read the Sun Newspapers article. 

  • The Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority has unanimously approved $1 million for an alternatives analysis study of the Bottineau Boulevard transit corridor. Read the Sun Newspapers article.

City of Brooklyn Center:

  • The city of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota State Health Department and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) are worried vapors from the dry cleaning business at the former Hmong-American Shopping Center site could be leaking into area homes from contaminated ground water. Read the Brooklyn Center Sun-Post article.

A similar problem was recently discovered in St. Louis Park. Read more on the St. Louis Park Web site.

City of Golden Valley:

  • A March 5 public hearing on a proposed ordinance change pertaining to employee-only child care centers in business zones was continued to March 18 after at least two City Council members raised some concerns. Read the New Hope-Golden Valley Sun-Post article.

City of Hopkins:

  • Empty Bowls, the annual fund-raiser Hopkins holds for local food shelves, will take place next Tuesday, March 25, from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Hopkins Center for the Arts (1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins). Community members are invited to come and choose their favorite handmade soup bowl from more than 1,200 bowls created by students and area artists, eat a simple meal of donated soup and bread, enjoy local entertainment and make a freewill donation to ensure that no one's bowl goes empty in the city.

City of St. Louis Park: 

Robbinsdale Area Schools: 

  • At the monthly Crystal/New Hope Business Council meeting, Bob Wittman, Robbinsdale's community education director, described Robbinsdale's strategic planning process and highlighted ways local businesses can get involved with their school district. He encouraged business leaders to visit the district's Web site to take a survey (click the "On-line survey" link), read more information regarding the process, and stay tuned for updates.