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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL)

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Legislative Update - The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

Friday, February 14, 2025
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Dear Granite City Neighbors,

I’m happy to share that we just wrapped up our first week of committee hearings in the Minnesota House - thanks to the bipartisan power-sharing agreement my DFL colleagues and I were able to secure!

I’m as frustrated as you that it took this long, especially since the deal House Republicans agreed to is largely the same as the offer we made before session began in January, but all’s well that ends well, and it’s time to turn the page on the last few weeks and work together to deliver bipartisan results for Minnesotans.

The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

It’s good to be back on the House Floor!

The agreement I fought for - and the reason I had been working from St. Cloud these previous weeks - ensures we’re governing the way voters asked us to last November. We made sure House Republicans agreed to the following:

  1. DFL Rep. Brad Tabke will serve his full term in the Minnesota House. Republicans won’t be able to kick him - or any member - out of the House solely because they think they’d get a better shot of winning that seat.
  2. In the likely event that the Roseville special election in March returns the House to a tie, then we will govern as a tie. That means balanced committee membership, and co-chairs on those committees.

It’s that simple.

Constitutionally, there can only be one Speaker, and part of our deal was that GOP Rep. Lisa Demuth will serve as Speaker of the House for the next two years, with some checks and balances on her power.

I learned from my days representing families as a Realtor that the nature of a good compromise is that not everyone gets what they want, but at the end of the day I think this serves as a great opportunity for working together these next two years. For my part, the agreement means I’ll currently serve as the DFL Lead on the Higher Education Committee, and will become the DFL Co-Chair once the House is tied. In either situation, I’m excited for the work ahead to ensure our students are prepared to enter the workforce ready to compete in a 21st century economy.

The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

I’m honored to lead the House Higher Education Committee

I want to give a huge shout out and thank you to our neighbors that have met with me, in St. Cloud and now back at the Capitol, to ensure I was able to hit the ground running on our community’s legislative needs as soon as this power-sharing agreement was reached. I covered a lot of those meetings in previous updates, but here are some of the latest:

It was great to meet with local teachers in the St. Cloud Education Association! The stories I heard make clear that our state needs to do more to support our teachers and empower them with the tools and resources they need to educate our children. Every teacher in Minnesota deserves a safe work environment, a competitive wage, and a fair pension!

The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

These teachers are unsung heros who deserve better pensions!

I met with local leaders from the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association. We discussed ways to support bus drivers, and I received an update on the legislation I authored to secure $250 million to ensure that every school bus in the state has a camera on their stop arm. You can read more about that law we passed a couple years ago here.
The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

Cameras on bus stop arms increase safety to protect our children

I toured the Burnished Block Plant at TCC Materials, a leading manufacturer of packaged concrete products in the USA. The blocks I saw today will build the schools, offices, stadiums, and amphitheaters of tomorrow. I learned a lot about the process of cement mixing, block burnishing, and the economic impact of the industry’s local jobs.
The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

Let’s pass a bonding bill and use these blocks to build projects throughout our state!

Clerical Paraeducators are unsung heroes who provide crucial support to students, parents, and teachers while serving as the front line of defense to protect our children. I’m grateful for the opportunity to “shadow” the incredible dream team who run the front desk at Polly’s school at Clearview Elementary and get first-hand experience learning about the work they do to keep the school functioning!
The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

Our schools could not function without Clerical Paraeducators!

This week, I welcomed officials from Benton County to my office at the Capitol. We are working together on legislation to secure funding for much-needed improvements to Mathew Lake Road, an updated Government Center in Foley, and other efforts to make Benton County an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. 
The House’s Power-Sharing Agreement

Thank you to our Benton County Commissioners for all your hard work and partnership!

I am truly grateful to our community members for all your support these last few weeks. We couldn’t have reached this bipartisan deal to get the Minnesota House organized without you!

Even though I’ll be spending more time at the State Capitol now, please continue to reach out with any questions, comments, or ideas you have on how to make St. Cloud and Minnesota better! You can reach me at Rep.Dan.Wolgamott@house.mn.gov or 651-296-6612. I look forward to hearing from you!

Stay warm and Go Huskies!

Sincerely,

 

Rep. Dan Wolgamott

District 14B

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