DFL unveils legislative priorities focused on Greater MN

House DFLers on Tuesday laid out their priorities for the approaching 2016 session, saying the state should invest hundreds of millions of dollars to boost Greater Minnesota in areas like broadband access, dementia care and aid to local governments.

The proposals put forward include $100 million to expand high-speed broadband Internet access to rural parts of the state, $50 million in agriculture property tax credits, $45.5 million in additional Local Government Aid to municipalities and $40 million in County Program Aid.

Surrounded by party members from Greater Minnesota, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, center, outlines the House DFL legislative agenda for the 2016 legislative session at a Jan. 19 news conference. Photo by Paul Battaglia

The Legislature is scheduled to convene March 8.

“There is nothing flashy about these,” said Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth), noting that a number of the DFL proposals for the 2016 session have been introduced previously.

House Republicans have also touted a focus on helping Greater Minnesota; Republicans recaptured control of the House last year after flipping nearly a dozen rural seats during the Nov. 2014 election.

WATCH full video of Tuesday’s news conference on our YouTube channel