With House lawmakers already having passed a comprehensive budget and awaiting our conference committees to iron out a final package, it was the right time to bring this bill up for a vote.

I am proud to say I voted in support of this historic bill that gives same-sex couples the freedom to marry the person they love. I’m also proud of legislators on both sides of the issue who participated in a respectful debate.

Same-sex marriage is an issue Minnesotans have weighed for many years, which was reflected in numerous speeches on the House floor. With last November’s constitutional amendment, it’s been a big focus of conversations among faith communities, students, businesses, and Minnesotans from all walks of life over the past two years.

In 2012, nearly 58 percent of voters in our District voted against that constitutional amendment. In 2004, when asked if I would vote for a bill that would allow all Minnesotans to marry the person they love, I said I would.

Treating someone differently based on their sexual orientation does not square with Minnesota values. Thankfully, the bill passed by the House makes sure same-sex couples in our state are treated equally under the law. It’s a huge victory for civil rights and provides same-sex couples with the same protections and benefits enjoyed by me and my wife.

It’s also important to note that with our comprehensive Human Rights Act, the Marriage Equality Act includes the strongest religious protections of any other state that has legalized same-sex marriage. Under the bill, religious organizations are not required to perform marriages they do not support. Those kinds of protections make sure we respect the deeply held beliefs of people who oppose same-sex marriage.

With the Senate expected to vote on the same-sex marriage bill this Monday and Governor Mark Dayton signaling his intent to sign the legislation into law, Minnesota will soon become the 12th state in the country to allow all people to marry the person they love.

If you have any questions or comments about the Marriage Equality Act or the House Energy Policy Omnibus bill, please contact me by phone at (651) 296-0171, by email at rep.david.bly@house.mn, or by postal mail at 559 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

The bill as it’s written now, would allow for private citizens to invest in the installation of a solar voltaic device and be ensured that there would be a means to sell unused electricity. If private businesses and homes generate enough solar energy to sell to the utilities on the electrical grid, the bill requires utilities to pay a rate adusted annually by the energy commission.

For futher reading, the full bill can be found at the Legislature’s website. Minnesota’s Department of Commerce has information about the current solar rebate program. .

Movement on the national front is evidenced by the Huffington Post’s article on Renewable Energy Standards in other states. An April 2013 post on the Clean Energy Authority blog describes proposed national legislation making financing solar energy projects similar to financing oil projects , and a number of national news organizations covered Echotech Institute’s announcement that there is tremendous growth in the clean energy jobs sector.

To pay for these important investments, we passed our tax bill. It eliminates our $627 million deficit without gimmicks and pays back the remaining $854 million school shift.

The bills we passed make Minnesota’s economy stronger.

Small businesses create jobs when there is demand for their products and services. An ‘all-cuts approach’ to our budget process shrinks demand and does not create an environment conducive to job creation. For example, cuts to local government aid (LGA) and county program aid (CPA) over the past decade caused property taxes to skyrocket by 86 percent.

Those tax hikes fell on the backs of middle class families who then had less money in their pockets to spend at local businesses. Without customers fueling demand by purchasing products and services, companies could not build up the capital necessary to expand their workforce. In fact, the LGA cuts that sparked painful property tax hikes led to less demand, forcing many businesses to lay off workers.

The bills passed by the House this week are designed to increase demand and create jobs by putting more money in the pockets of consumers.

The House DFL tax bill invests $270 million into direct middle class property tax cuts for nearly one million Minnesotans through the Homestead Credit Refund, a retooled renter’s credit, and increased funds to cities and counties. Under the new Homestead Credit Refund, homeowners in Rice County will see an average increase of $203. In addition, Rice County will receive nearly $450,000 more in CPA in 2014 and the city of Northfield will receive over $660,000 more in LGA.

Providing help with property taxes for middle class families reverses the trend of LGA and CPA cuts over the past decade that caused property taxes to skyrocket. It puts more money in consumers’ pockets that will be pumped right back into the economy.

As we all know, nothing comes free. The investments we’re making in areas like property tax cuts cost money. The House DFL plan generates the revenue needed to build a stronger economy in a way that’s fair.

One component of our tax plan raises additional revenue for our investments by increasing the income tax rate to 8.49 percent on the wealthiest 1.1 percent of individuals (taxable income greater than $400,000 per year for joint filers). High income earners have done extremely well coming out of the recession.

Asking those who can afford to pay a little more in income taxes to help improve Minnesota’s economic vitality is a much fairer approach than pushing the cost of the things we need onto the backs of middle class families in higher property taxes. Polling shows a majority of Minnesotans support the House approach.

In the coming weeks when we’ve settled on a final budget, I’ll use my bi-weekly column to outline the investments we’re making, how we’ll pay for them, and the benefits we expect.

More than 300,000 homeowners (about three-fourths of filers) will see an increase on their property tax refund, with the average homeowners receiving an increase of $212. Over 60,000 renters will get a larger refund as well.

The package’s updated LGA distribution formula is more stable, easier to understand, and more predictable. Under the proposal, the new formula is need-based, meaning it provides the most aid to communities with the greatest need. The city of Northfield would see a $417,501 increase in LGA, helping maintain the kinds of quality services that Minnesotans expect and deserve.

This bill puts more money in the pockets of middle class families, allowing them to buy more products and services from local businesses and keep our economy on the road to recovery. At the end of the day, it will help make sure Minnesota remains a place where people want to live, work, and raise a family.

Another recently released bill aimed at growing the middle class is our $46 million jobs and economic development package.

One of the largest investments in the proposal is $20 million for the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF), which helps businesses bring quality jobs to the state by delivering funds to Minnesota cities who can then offer incentives for businesses to come to their area. It also brings $33 in private investment for every $1 it loans out.

Another significant investment will be over $18 million for a job creation fund. These dollars would be allocated to the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) which would then use the funding as a tool to help businesses make capital investments and create jobs.

Other investments in the jobs package include $1.5 million for the Minnesota Trade Office to help create business relationships that strengthen Minnesota’s economic output, $5 million for a ‘Fast Trac’ program that helps train entrepreneurs to have success in starting and growing their own business, and $2 million in one-time funding for the Minnesota Film and TV Board.

Although Minnesota’s economy is doing much better than most states, the House DFL jobs package is needed to put more people back to work so they can provide for their families. I’m hopeful we can pass this bill and keep our state on a path to long-term prosperity.

Another bill I’m keeping track of would dedicate $1.2 million in funding for the Mill Towns Trail. The construction of the trail was designated by the Legislature in 2000 as a recreational trail extending in to Faribault from the connection with Sakatah Singing Hills Trail to the cities of Dundas and Northfield. The Mill Towns Trail will create a State recreational trail system from Mankato to Red Wing. Our recreational trails and parks are a signature characteristic of our community and state. The completion of the Mill Towns Trail will be a jewel for Northfield and our surrounding communities.

I hope to hear from you over the coming weeks as we enter the final stretch of this year’s legislative session. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-0171, by email at rep.david.bly@house.mn, or by postal mail at 559 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155.

Are You Covered – If a disaster strikes, do you have the proper insurance coverage? Learn what is covered and what is not in case of a storm or flood.

The Claims Process – If you have suffered a loss to your home or property, this section contains questions you should ask and things you should know before filing a claim.

Home Inventory – Make sure your possessions are fully protected by documenting them with a home inventory. Do you have an Android® or iPhone®? If so, there’s an app for that. Download a free home inventory app for your personal mobile device.

Know Your Rights – Learn what your insurance company must and cannot do when you file an insurance claim after a disaster.

Auto Damage – From severe weather to icy road conditions, Minnesotans are no stranger to auto damage. Get all your questions answered about proper auto coverage and how to file an auto insurance claim.

Renters Insurance– If a tornado or flood destroys your apartment complex your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your family’s possessions. Renters insurance protects your personal property against damage or loss.

Flood Insurance – As the second largest natural disaster, floods are widespread and can cause much more than property damage. Without proper insurance, flooding can cause severe personal and financial losses. Learn more about flood coverage.

Public Adjusters – What Minnesota consumers should know before doing business with a public adjuster.

Rebuilding After a Disaster – Consumer tips about insurance, mortgages, and construction after a disaster hits your property.

Working With Contractors – The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) reminds homeowners to do some homework before hiring a building contractor after a storm.

Disaster Finances: 101 – Keeping your finances in order after a natural disaster damages your property and possessions.

Of all the resources and information available on the Commerce Department’s Disaster Center, Commissioner Rothman particularly encourages all Minnesotans to learn more about home inventories.  Among the tools on the Commerce website is a home inventory checklist consumers can use to take inventory of their belongings. In addition to walking consumers from room to room in their home, the checklist also encourages consumers to make a note of the brand, model number, serial number and what was paid for each item.

Creating a home inventory is easier than ever thanks to myHOME Scr.APP.book, a new iPhone and Android application from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The free myHOME Scr.APP.book app lets you quickly photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then stores them electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information room by room, and even creates a back-up file for e-mail sharing.

Rebuilding after a storm

The Minnesota Department of Commerce Consumer Response Team (CRT) is available to help consumers with questions, concerns, or complaints following a damaging storm, flood, or tornado. CRT experts can help you understand your rights, work with your insurer to settle a claim, and help you make informed insurance decisions after a flood or storm damages your home, auto, or property.