Greg Davids Explained

Greg Davids
State House:Minnesota
District:26B
Term Start:January 6, 2009
Predecessor:Ken Tschumper
Constituency:26B (2023-present)
28B (2013-2022)
31B (2009-2012)
Term Start1:February 18, 1991
Term End1:January 2, 2007
Predecessor1:Elton Redalen
Successor1:Ken Tschumper
Constituency1:31B (1993-2006)
32B (1991-1992)
Party:Republican
Birth Date:28 August 1958
Education:Waldorf College
Winona State University (B.S.)
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Spouse:Bonnie
Children:3
Residence:Preston, Minnesota

Gregory Michael Davids (born August 28, 1958) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2009, and from 1991 to 2006. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Davids represents District 26B in southeastern Minnesota, which includes the cities of La Crescent and Spring Valley, and parts of Fillmore, Houston, and Mower Counties.[1] [2]

Early life, education, and career

Davids graduated from Spring Valley High School, then attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and Winona State University in Winona, where he earned his B.S. in social science. He also attended graduate school at Mankato State University in Mankato.

Davids was appointed to the Preston City Council in 1986, and was elected mayor a year later, serving until his election to the state legislature in 1991.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Davids was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in a special election on February 12, 1991. He won a full term in 1992 and was reelected every two years until 2006. Davids first ran after eight-term Republican incumbent Elton Redalen resigned to accept an appointment as Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture. In 2006, Davids was defeated by Ken Tschumper. Davids ran again and defeated Tschumper in 2008, and has been reelected every two years since then. He is the longest-serving Republican member of the Minnesota House, serving 16 non-consecutive terms.[3]

Davids serves as the minority lead for the Taxes Committee, and sits on the Ethics and Higher Education Finance and Policy Committees. He chaired the Taxes Committee for six years of non-consecutive Republican control, from 2011 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2018. During the 2005-06 biennium, he chaired the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. That session he also served as speaker pro tempore for the House, a position he also held during the 2011-12 biennium. From 1999 to 2004, Davids chaired the Commerce, Jobs and Economic Development Committee.

Taxes

Davids has consistently advocated for tax cuts for businesses and individuals, and called for Minnesota to make its tax code more competitive with other Midwestern states.[4] [5] He has supported a full repeal of the tax on Social Security, and an end to the estate tax.[6] [7]

From 2011 to 2012, Davids chaired the taxes committee during a budget stalemate between House and Senate Republicans and Governor Mark Dayton that resulted in a government shutdown.[8] In 2014, during full DFL control of the legislature, he supported a tax bill providing $103 million in tax cuts.[9]

Returning as tax chair in 2015, Davids authored bipartisan legislation in 2015 to align the state's tax code with federal law, delivering tax relief to filers.[10] He opposed efforts by Dayton to increase the gas tax and taxes on top earners, and called for phasing out commercial property taxes.[11] [12] [13] He supported bipartisan efforts to give tax credits to Minnesotans with student debt.[14] In 2016, Davids sponsored a tax bill that would give $450 million in cuts to Social Security recipients, veterans, college students and parents, a compromise version was passed later in the session with bipartisan support but was not signed by Governor Dayton.[15] [16] [17] The bill also contained a repeal of yearly tax increases on tobacco and cigarettes, which Davids supported but Dayton opposed.[18] [19] [20]

Davids praised parts of Dayton's 2017 tax plan, but opposed a proposal to create a working family tax credit in favor of a child-care tax credit.[21] [22] Davids's 2017 tax bill, which passed the House, contained $1.35 billion in tax cuts, including many provisions from the 2016 bill, including cuts to estate taxes and a repeal of the tobacco tax.[23] [24] Dayton signed the bill but called for a special session to undo several of the cuts that he argued favored the wealthy and special interest groups.[25] [26] In 2018, Davids wrote another tax bill that offered tax cuts for over 2 million Minnesotans, which passed on a bipartisan vote, but was criticized by some DFLers for prioritizing corporate tax breaks.[27]

Health care policy and MNsure

Davids has been critical of the Affordable Care Act as well as MNsure, a state-run health insurance marketplace.[28] [29] [30] [31] He supported efforts to eliminate MNsure, and praised President Donald Trump for his promise to repeal the ACA.[32] [33]

Davids co-chaired a legislative oversight committee on MNsure, and advocated for high-risk pools.[34] [35] He has said he does not want more people on public programs, instead saying "there should be a viable, vibrant private market".[36] Davids authored a bill establishing a reinsurance program, but opposed funding it with tax increases on the health care industry.[37] [38] In 2017, he criticized House DFLers for holding up a Republican health insurance rebate proposal.[39]

Other political positions

Davids wrote a letter opposing Dayton's southwest light rail plan, arguing it would take funds away from tax relief and other transportation projects in Greater Minnesota.[40] He opposed Dayton's efforts to raise cabinet members' salaries.[41] Davids opposed efforts to expand gambling through online ticket sales.[42] [43] [44] He also opposed legislation lifting a state ban on Sunday liquor sales.[45]

In 2017, Davids called then-minority leader Melissa Hortman racist for her calling out her "100 percent white male" colleagues for playing cards in the retiring room of the House during debate. He said Hortman should apologize or resign as DFL leader.[46] [47]

Personal life

Davids lives in Preston Minnesota with his wife, Bonnie, and has three children.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Davids, Gregory M. "Greg" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present . 2023-03-25 . www.lrl.mn.gov.
  2. Web site: Rep. Greg Davids (26B) - Minnesota House of Representatives . 2023-03-25 . www.house.mn.gov.
  3. Web site: Condon . Patrick . July 13, 2015 . DFL's Kahn, Carlson now longest-serving state House members ever . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  4. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . August 29, 2013 . Minnesota House panel tries to counter Wisconsin ‘propaganda’ . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  5. Web site: Lopez . Ricardo . December 12, 2015 . Minnesota's fiscal health stands out among the Midwest states . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  6. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . April 5, 2016 . GOP presses to end Minnesota tax on Social Security . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  7. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . January 12, 2017 . Lawmakers OK initial tax cuts, begin debating others . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  8. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . November 25, 2014 . New balance of power makes GOP, Dems wary . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  9. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . May 8, 2014 . Agreement at Capitol on another round of tax cuts . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  10. Web site: Lopez . Ricardo . January 13, 2015 . Teachers, students could reap benefit of realigned state tax code . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  11. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . January 2, 2015 . Flush with $1 billion surplus, lawmakers eye tax relief . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  12. Web site: Scheck . Tom . May 1, 2015 . Capitol leaders ready for high-stakes budget poker . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  13. Web site: Scheck . Tom . February 3, 2015 . Higher taxes on top MN earners didn't spark exodus . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  14. Web site: Cox . Peter . May 26, 2016 . Tax credits aim to help ease sting of student debt, encourage saving . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  15. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . Lopez . Ricardo . May 17, 2016 . Minnesota House Republicans offer their own road plan, includes $100 million in car tab fees . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  16. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . Lopez . Ricardo . Rao . Maya . May 23, 2016 . Session implodes at midnight over roads, public works . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  17. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . March 25, 2017 . 2018 politics creep into legislative session . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  18. Web site: Richert . Cathering . February 18, 2015 . GOP lawmaker seeks end to annual cigarette tax hikes . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  19. Web site: Condon . Patrick . May 26, 2016 . Tobacco users get tax break from Legislature . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  20. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . February 12, 2017 . Tobacco industry looks for political wins in Minnesota . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  21. Web site: Lopez . Ricardo . January 5, 2017 . Gov. Mark Dayton unveils $300 million tax plan while GOP unveils health care blueprint . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  22. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . January 5, 2017 . Dayton proposes tax cut plan that GOP calls ‘lean’ . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  23. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . March 30, 2017 . MN House passes $1.35 billion tax cut . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  24. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . April 14, 2017 . With Republicans leading Legislature, allies ready to reap benefits . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  25. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . June 26, 2017 . Tax cuts on the way for some Minnesotans; opponents say they are too expensive, directed at wealthy . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  26. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . March 26, 2018 . Gov. Mark Dayton aims to limit tax increase on families; critics call it massive tax increase . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  27. Web site: Keen . Judy . May 15, 2018 . Minnesota House passes GOP tax bill; Dayton not yet on board . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  28. Web site: Snowbeck . Christopher . June 3, 2015 . Some Minnesota health insurers seek large premium hikes . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  29. Web site: Snowbeck . Christopher . August 7, 2015 . Republicans question Dayton on MNsure vendor payments . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  30. Web site: Snowbeck . Christopher . January 28, 2016 . Audit finds lax eligibility checks for public health programs in Minnesota . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  31. Web site: Snowbeck . Christopher . August 31, 2016 . MNsure still missing board members . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  32. Web site: Zdechlik . Mark . July 13, 2015 . Republicans renew calls to dismantle MNsure . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  33. Web site: Nelson . Tim . November 9, 2016 . Even in Hibbing, Minn. voters tapped GOP, Trump, change . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  34. Web site: Condon . Patrick . November 13, 2016 . What will Trump's election win mean for Minnesota? . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  35. Web site: Simons . Abby . October 20, 2015 . Chairman of MNsure oversight committee looks into spending of federal funds . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  36. Web site: Snowbeck . Christopher . September 8, 2016 . Looming hikes in health-care insurance premiums defy easy fixes . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  37. Web site: Golden . Erin . March 22, 2017 . Dayton issues warning on 'reinsurance' plans . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  38. Web site: Bakst . Brian . March 13, 2017 . Minnesota House passes GOP reinsurance bill . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  39. Web site: Golden . Erin . January 17, 2017 . With health insurance rebates on Capitol agenda, individual market customers hope for political compromise . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  40. Web site: Davids . Greg . Torkelson . Paul . August 25, 2016 . OPINION EXCHANGE Counterpoint: Dayton chooses light rail over some pretty good legislation . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  41. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . Condon . Patrick . February 9, 2015 . Minnesota Republicans attempt to block Dayton cabinet pay raises . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  42. Web site: Nelson . Tim . April 22, 2014 . Lawmakers call online games 'lottery gone wild' . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  43. Web site: Brandon . Stahl . July 20, 2015 . Minnesota lottery reports record contribution to the state . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  44. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . Walsh . Paul . June 26, 2018 . Minnesotans can now buy lottery tickets on smartphone but legal status debated . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  45. Web site: Olson . Michael . January 8, 2015 . Do you support Sunday liquor sales? . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.
  46. Web site: Walsh . Paul . April 4, 2017 . Top DFL lawmaker's 'white male' comments set off spat on Minnesota House floor . 2023-03-26 . Star Tribune.
  47. Web site: Bakst . Brian . April 4, 2017 . House DFL leader slams 'white male card game' . 2023-03-26 . MPR News . en.

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