Dear Neighbors, To say the first weeks of session were not quite what I had expected is an understatement. I know there is frustration about what is transpiring in St. Paul - I’m frustrated, too. The simplest way that I can put it is like this: The disenfranchisement of the voters and the refusal to honor a legitimate election is not something that we can let gain roots here in Minnesota. Our democracy is based on accepting the results of free and fair elections, whether your side won or lost. I continue to hold out hope that the Republican leadership will unequivocally state they accept the results of the election in District 54A and honor the will of the voters should we return to a tied House after the special election in District 40B. Regardless of everything else going on, here are some of my key takeaways the last couple weeks. The staff that work at the Capitol are amazing, they are the gears that keep everything moving. This includes the folks who work on the various committees doing the research and fiscal analysis, as well as the folks in the Revisor’s Office and House Research Department. These are non-partisan staff that do not work for either party, they work for the House of Representatives. The Legislative Assistant that I will be working with is Faith Privett. I feel very fortunate to be working with Faith, as she is a seasoned Legislative Assistant and grew up in Proctor. She has been incredibly helpful as I learn the ropes. This biennium I am excited to be serving on the following committees: - Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development
- Public Safety
- Education Finance
I think these committees will give me a great opportunity to use my experience as a firefighter, labor leader, husband to a public-school teacher, and parent to two daughters in middle school to fight for working people across the state. Last week, I met with a number of folks both in Duluth and in St. Paul. This included meeting with DECC Executive Director Dan Hartman about their bonding requests, including money to make the venues more accessible and address major issues with their heating system. An interesting fact that most Duluthians may not know is that the DECC is the only convention center in Minnesota that was created as a State Authority. I also spoke with Great Lakes Aquarium Executive Director Jay Walker about the aquariums needs and the work they are doing. The GLA turns 25 this spring and is in need of some maintenance to ensure it lasts another 25 years. We also talked about an exciting Legacy Act request (more to come on that one)! |