Amy Klobuchar addresses NACo general assembly

Former Hennepin county attorney and current Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke to the NACo general assembly on Tuesday morning about how federal issues affect local governments.

The senator warned county commissioners to be very concerned about federal proposals that will inevitably, “land in the counties laps,” such as the upcoming healthcare reform.

“This really isn’t a joke. Sometimes laws can pass without anyone noticing and that there a big effect on the local level,” Klobuchar said. “As we go through this tumultuous time we need to be thinking about people in counties and how this all works in local government.”

Klobuchar noted that it is important to keep an eye on upcoming changes to tax policy and the how it will impact local governments.

For example, brick and mortar storefronts face more taxation than online retailers. Klobuchar described this situation as “ridiculous,” as “you want to have competition but you want to have fair competition.” Under the new tax system this may change so online retailers face similar taxes.

Klobuchar also emphasized the impact immigration reform will have on counties.

“This is a workforce issue as well as well as a social issue. But I like to talk to my constituents about it as an economic issue,” Klobuchar said, explaining that Trump’s caps on refugees will eventually trickle down to hurt states and counties that struggle to find worker to fill certain jobs.

She concluded, “Thank you so much for still having faith in the work you do, having faith in or county and having faith in a country that, as Barbara Jordan once said, is ‘as good as its promise.”