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Friends and Neighbors-

I am in Chicago at the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's (MEEA) annual conference. Yesterday, Senator Scott Dibble and I spoke as a panel, moderated by Stacie Fallon from the Council of State Governments, about our nation-leading Energy Efficiency Bill last year. We also shared MEEA's Leadership Award last night with Christy Brusven, formerly of the Governor's staff, and Sheldon Strom, director of the Center for Energy and the Environment.

This morning's CEO Leadership Breakfast was inspiring. Sen. Dibble and I spoke personally with Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers about our Minnesota bill and the next generation of pro-business, green opportunities for energy efficiency - including a large-scale upgrade of the most inefficient and outdated parts of our electrical grid.

Yesterday's morning session on Green Collar Jobs was very helpful, as Rep. Aaron Peterson and I are working on bringing a world-leading renewable energy company's Research and Development center to Minnesota. While other states have done some work already, I think Minnesota's workforce, colleges and universities, and new energy policies can put us in a strong leadership position to energize Minnesota's economy again. Many of the experience economic development folks I've talked to the last 3 days are eager to help us get up to speed - quickly.

Currently, Maureen McNamara is presenting the latest data on the federal Energy Star brand for homes, appliances, and other technologies. I am working on legislation to establish tax exemptions or other new incentives to purchase energy efficient appliances in Minnesota.

Of course, there's more going on in the world that just this conference...

JANUARY 2008 STATE ECONOMIC UPDATE from the Department of Commerce
(For detailed numbers, I’ve attached the pdf document.)

"Net general fund revenues totaled $3.008 billion in November and December, $105 million (3.6 percent) more than forecast. Although receipts from all major tax sources were above forecast, some of this positive variance may reflect differences in the timing of receipts, not a stronger than forecast underlying economy.

Fourth quarter revenue variances always should be viewed with caution since key items may reflect only differences in the timing of receipts, not an improved economic outlook. For example, sales tax receipts only reflect purchases in October and November. Taxes collected on sales made during the December portion of the Christmas shopping season will not be remitted to the state until late January. The variance for the individual income tax also could change materially. Fourth quarter 2007 individual estimated tax payments are not due until January 15 and the proportion of taxpayer returns submitted to and processed by December 31 changes substantially from year to year. More complete data on revenues will be available at the end of January and incorporated into February’s revenue forecast.

PROPERTY TAX REPORT - NO SURPRISES... BIG HIKES THIS YEAR AGAIN

Yesterday, our non-partisan House Research department released a new property tax report which projects a $596 million increase in property taxes this year - about $1,100 every minute, and sadly another record for Minnesota.

Last year, the House and Senate passed two separate property tax relief bills. I supported both of them. The first one to reach the Governor's desk included $452 million in permanent property tax relief by increasing funding to the Property Tax Refund Program for homeowners and renters and buying down education levies statewide. The Governor vetoed that bill. The final tax bill provided $377 million in permanent property tax relief through homeowner aids and credits, and more state aid to local governments. Governor Pawlenty vetoed that bill, supported bipartisanly in the Legislature, after the session adjourned.

The latest analysis by the House Fiscal Analysis Department indicates property taxes are expected to increase by more than 8.8 pethe state, with larger, double-digit increases expected in outstate areas. I've spoken with the Speaker of the House and the Tax Chair to discuss a number of proposals under consideration to permanently reduce property taxes.

STATE AUDITOR REPORT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOBBYING COSTS.

ST. PAUL (01/10/2008) - State Auditor Rebecca Otto yesterday released a comprehensive report that shows the costs of lobbying services provided to Minnesota local governments and their associations for calendar year 2006. The report is intended to inform Minnesota citizens and policy makers of the amount spent by their local government on lobbying services.

According to reports filed with the Office of the State Auditor, local governments in Minnesota spent a total of $7,063,507 on lobbying activities in 2006. This represents a decrease of $722,853 or 9.3 percent from the amount spent in 2005.

Sixty-three reporting local governments (20 fewer than in 2005) directly employed or hired contract lobbyists in 2006. These local governments spent a total of $3,143,062 on staff and contract lobbyists. This was $524,881 or 14.3 percent less than in 2005. Staff and contract lobbyists are paid to provide information to policy makers so as to influence legislative, administrative, or official actions regarding governmental units in Minnesota. These expenditures do not include dues and membership fees paid to local government associations.

In addition to the $3.1 million paid directly to staff and contract lobbyists, local governments paid dues of $9,578,414 in 2006 to local government associations that also represented their interests before the legislature. These associations spent $3,920,445 on lobbyists and lobbying in 2006. This represents a decrease of 4.8 percent from 2005. Of the $3.9 million spent on lobbyists and lobbying, $3,520,235 was funded exclusively through dues. This represents a decrease of 0.6 percent from the $3,540,058 in association dues that were spent on lobbying activities in 2005.

For the complete report, which includes tables and graphs, go to http://www.auditor.state.mn.us/reports/gid/2006/lobby/lobby_06_report.pdf.

That's all for today. Have a great weekend.

Jeremy

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Jeremy Kalin
State Representative - 17B
sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/17b

Contact me at the Capitol:
Rep.Jeremy.Kalin@House.mn
651.296.5377
579 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
St. Paul MN 55155

Contact me at home:
11629 Loftman Trail
North Branch, MN 55056
651-257-9861
Jeremy@Kalin.com