2014
STATEWIDE POLICY TOURRESULT
S
Thank you 2014 Statewide Policy Tour
sponsor!
Albert LeaAlexandriaArden HillsBrainerdBurnsvilleDuluthFridleyGrand Rapids
MankatoMinnetonkaRochesterSaint CloudThief River FallsWillmar WinonaWorthington
HOSTED BY CHAMBER MEMBERS16 LOCATIONS:
Alakef Coffee RoastersDuluth ◦ 2014
Culligan Water Conditioning Minnetonka ◦ 1959
13 FACILITY TOURS
TODAY’S AGENDA
2013-2104 Biennium
• Results for your business
New issues? Continue current priorities?• Taxes, Minimum Wage, Workforce,
Energy, Transportation, Environment, Health Care
What can you do?
2013-2014 Biennium
A quick legislative recap…
Series1
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
Total Spending and Tax Growth
11.7%
9.4%
3.5%
2014-15GDP
Tax Increase/
Growth
SpendingIncrease/
Growth
2013/2014 SESSION: Tax and Spending Results
Minnesota Minimum Wage 8/1/2014 8/1/2015 8/1/2016Large Employers $8.00 $9.00 $9.50Small Employers $6.50 $7.25 $7.75Youth Wage $6.50 $7.25 $7.75Training Wage $6.50 $7.25 $7.75J nonimmigrant visa $7.25 $7.50 $7.75
Indexed in 2018…
2014 SESSION: Labor Issues
New Employer Mandates:Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA)• Pregnancy Accommodations • Pregnancy and Parenting Leave• Wage Disclosure Protections• Nursing Mothers Protections• Familial Status New Protected Class• Sick Leave Benefits and Care of
Relatives
2014 SESSION: Labor Issues
The positives:
Repeal of B2B taxes and gift tax
Estate tax threshold raised Transportation debate framed 5% efficiency for MnDOT in
2015
2014 SESSION: Positives
The positives:
Colleges, universities can advertise early college options to high schoolers
Defeated paid sick leave mandate and caregiver status
Expedited environmental permitting
Defeated new chemical regulations
2014 SESSION: Positives
WHAT WE HEARD:
• Recent changes make it harder to be a successful business in Minnesota.
• Elections matter. • Longstanding problems persist:
permitting, workforce, healthcare, labor.
• Keep pushing reform and accountability!
2014 Statewide Policy Tour
What We Heard: TAXES
• Taxes are burdensome and complex. • The competitiveness of our economic
climate is declining. • In many communities, individuals or
businesses consider leaving Minnesota.
“What should we work on?”:
• Pass-through exemption for business income
• Estate tax federal conformity• Fourth tier income tax – lower or eliminate• Tax reform and government accountability• Capital equipment sales tax exemption on
What We Heard: TAXES
What We Heard: LABOR
• Minimum wage increase is a big challenge. • Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits too
generous. • Workers compensation benefits are high, may get
higher due to minimum wage increase.
To do’s: • Eliminate indexing on minimum wage • Reform prevailing wage, workers comp,
and UI.
What We Heard: EDUCATION / WORKFORCE
Widespread concern about the workforce: • “not every kid needs a 4-
year degree” • High-paying technical jobs,
but no qualified applicants • “We needed solutions
yesterday- or 5 years ago”
• Retirements loom large
Digi-Key CorporationThief River Falls ◦ 1989
• Higher education is too expensive. • Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
information increase is a good change. • Skepticism that U of M, MnSCU will respond in a
timely way.
To do’s: • Keep pushing workforce alignment and
career counseling. • Restore the grad test and teacher basic
skills test.
What We Heard: EDUCATION / WORKFORCE
What We Heard: PERMITTING
• Permitting timelines are too long. • Lack of certainty on time and cost.• Concern that water will be more regulated
and fees increased.
To do’s: • Monitor DNR decisions on water
regulation. • Keep pushing on permitting times
and agency processes.
What We Heard: TRANSPORTATION
• Understand more investment in highways, roads and bridges is necessary
• Little stomach for a “world class” funding package.
• Transit is important; but doesn’t help to move goods.
BNSF Railway Company Fridley ◦ 1969
To do’s: • Keep pushing agencies to be efficient• Think outside the box – gas tax is a short-
term solution.• Continue conversations with members;
educate on funding sources, role of counties vs state.
What We Heard: TRANSPORTATION
What We Heard: HEALTHCARE
• MnSURE / Affordable Care Act create uncertainty in cost and timelines - confusing and expensive.
• Rates released November 15th = little time to plan. • More employers give $$ for employees to
purchase their own health care.
To do’s: • Focus on transparency, quality,
accountability, and affordability.
What We Heard: ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT
• Concern about electric rates, biodiesel, and new carbon rules. “Where is our energy going to come from?”
To do’s: • Cost based rates• Monitor Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) carbon legislation. MN should get
credit for being an early adopter.
What We Heard: OTHER
To Summarize: • Recent changes make it harder to be
successful in Minnesota. • Elections matter.• Longstanding problems persist:
workforce, permitting, healthcare, labor.
• Keep pushing reform and accountability!
Thank you 2014 Statewide Policy Tour
sponsor!
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