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Don J. Valento <br />District 54A <br />Ramsey County <br />Committees: <br />Local and Urban Affairs, Chairman <br />Taxes <br />Local Government Finance Division <br />Crime and Family Law <br />Criminal Justice <br />July, 1985 <br />Dear Friends: <br />Minnesota <br />House of <br />Representatives <br />prgrriz <br />JUL 23 1985 <br />CITY OF <br />LITTLE CANAD4 <br />aker <br />The Ship of State has adjourned until February 3, 1985, <br />and when the ship is moving at 16 knots, you must first <br />reduce the speed before shifting direction. During <br />this session of the Legislature we did a little of <br />both after 14 years of moving at the same speed and <br />in the same direction of spending. This direction <br />cannot be reversed in one session, but we made significant <br />progress in turning the ship around. <br />During this session of the Legislature I chaired the <br />Committee on Local and Urban Affairs and served on <br />the Tax Committee, Crime and Family Law, and the Criminal <br />Justice Committee. Serving on these committees was <br />instrumental to my being able to effectively represent <br />District 54A. <br />The 1984 election of an Independent - Republican House <br />had a profound impact on the legislative session. <br />1. Budget Resolution. For the first time in <br />the history of Minnesota, the Independent <br />Republican Caucus passed a budget resolution <br />which set a fixed budget of $10.6 billion <br />dollars, thus formally limiting state expenditures <br />from the very beginning. This set a policy <br />not to exceed the amount established in the <br />resolution. I supported this resolution, <br />and we were successful. <br />2. The Omnibus Tax Bill. We passed the largest <br />tax cut legislation in the history of Minnesota. <br />We reached our goal of a $1- Billion dollar <br />reduction in taxes. This included cuts of <br />$880 million in income taxes, cuts of $48 <br />million in certain sales taxes, and we cut <br />property taxes by $32 million. In addition, <br />$22 million has been appropriated for economic <br />development and $5 million for corporate tax <br />relief. These tax cuts are substantial and <br />are indicative of significant progress in <br />state government reform and responsibility. <br />9 <br />Reply to ❑ 343 Stale Office Building. St Paul, Minnesota 55155 <br />D 636 L [3orw Road. 55 Paul Minnesota 55117 <br />Office (612) 296-7153 <br />Home (612) 181 -6634 <br />(612) 484 -0460 <br />