statewide policy tour results 2014
DESCRIPTION
Business leaders across the state weighed in on their priority concerns during our Statewide Policy Tour. Their message was clear: Recent changes in legislation make it harder to be successful in Minnesota. They continue to face recurring problems in such areas as workforce, permitting, health care and labor.TRANSCRIPT
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!