Volume 1, Number 7

Dear Residents of District 49,

As you may know, this week was an important one on the Legislative calendar. Friday marked the first committee deadline, meaning that any policy bills needed to have a hearing in all committees of jurisdiction and pass by Friday, March 15. My colleagues and I were working long days and nights to pass our legislative proposals. I began this week by presenting two of my bills on the floor of the Senate, one dealing with electronic fund transfers (SF 336) and the other addressing affidavits of survivorship (SF 249). SF 336 fills a gap in the state Electronic Funds Transfer law, which stems from the federal Dodd Frank consumer protection law. SF 249 provides for an affidavit of survivorship for real property to release or partially release a lien on a mortgage. Both bills are expected to be signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton. The bill that I was most focused on this week was my bill to reduce the unemployment insurance tax. SF 619 will save employers $346.5 million. I received support from the MN Chamber of Commerce and the bill swiftly passed the Senate Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. This legislation will have a major costsaving impact on Minnesota businesses without affecting the state budget. The reduction will give employers some tax relief, which they can use to reinvest in their business and create more jobs. Sincerely,

March 18th, 2013

Connect with me:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MelisaLFranzen Twitter: @MelisaFranzen YouTube: Melisa Franzen Click here to watch my Week in Review Video

Around the District

Good luck to the Girls Basketball teams from Hopkins and Bloomington who both made it to the 2013 State Tournament! K-9 Officer Krieger is retiring from the Minnetonka Police force. Krieger is a 9 year-old German Shepherd. He has served in Minnetonka for 7 years, responding to over 400 calls for service. His human partner, Officer Ryan Piper, has plans to purchase Krieger from the department and include him in family life. We thank both of them for their service. Congratulations to the Hornets Boys Basketball team on their first trip to the State Tournament in 22 years! Good luck to Edina and all the Elite 8 teams! Thank you to Edina City Manager Scott Neal! He took a Polar Plunge this week with 911 Dispatcher Taunya Hegyi and many others, raising money for the Special Olympics. Brrr!

Around the Capitol

Overseas Child Support Collection: State efforts to enforce international collection of child support could hinge on federal moves to establish uniform procedures. Extra Prosecutor Protection: A House committee approved enhanced penalties for someone who assaults or causes the death of a prosecutor. Ticket Sales Transparency: When tickets sell out in a matter of minutes, it may not be the fans who purchased them. Training for Helping Veterans in Crisis: Committee approval for $200,000 for training courses across the state. Leaner U of M Administrative Budget: Proposal freezes undergraduate tuition for Minnesota residents in exchange for a $91.6 Million funding increase. Fewer Election Judges for Local Races: Streamlining election processes would save local governments money, advocates say.

Highlights
I visited the Edina Morningside Rotary Club to share my experience at the Capitol. Edina Go Green constituents visited my office to discuss commercial recycling and single use plastic bags. EGG is a local grassroots organization dedicated to making Edina a leader in sustainability.

Tweet of the Week

@MrAndersonGov So awesome ... #vvmsgov students on MN Senate Floor! Thx @MelisaFranzen RT @check_my__fLO: pic.twitter.com/yvpOFXnbGo

Thanks to the Valley View Students and Mr. Anderson for visiting me at the Senate!

Monday: The Senate will hear the Health Care Exchange Conference Committee Report. Tuesday: Ill be speaking at a rally for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome awareness in the Rotunda. Wednesday: The City of Bloomington will hold its State of the City event. Click for details. Friday: Second deadline means that policy bills must be passed out of committee in both the House and Senate.

The Week Ahead