Rep. Kim Norton April 9 Newsletter

04/09/2009

Dear Neighbors,

Just over half-way through the legislative session Governor Pawlenty, the Minnesota House, and the Minnesota Senate have each proposed solutions for the state’s $6.4 billion budget shortfall. Each plan relies on $1.8 billion in one-time federal recovery funds and would take the following steps to resolve the deficit:

Governor Tim Pawlenty

· Makes $1.5 billion in budget cuts

· Uses $1.3 billion in Health Care Access funds to pay for other services

· Delays $1.3 billion in payments to K-12 schools

· Borrows $1 billion from future revenues

· Adds $500 million in tax cuts and budget reserves

· Leaves a $2.6 billion deficit in 2012/2013



Minnesota Senate

· Makes $2.4 billion in budget cuts

· Relies on $2.2 billion in new revenue

· Balances the budget in 2012/2013



Minnesota House of Representatives

· Makes $1.6 billion in budget cuts

· Delays $1.8 billion in payments to K-12 schools

· Relies on $1.5 billion in new revenue

· Adds $300 million in budget reserves

· Balances the budget in 2012/2013

In the coming weeks, I will be working with lawmakers from both parties and Governor Pawlenty to find compromise on a responsible, fiscally disciplined solution that balances the budget and prepares Minnesota for a stronger future.

Your input has been critically important throughout the session, and will remain instrumental as we develop a final solution. I strongly encourage you to remain engaged in the process and contact me with your concerns and suggestions. You can contact me directly by phone at (651) 296-9249 or by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). I look forward to hearing from you.

Kim Norton
State Representative
District 29B


SECOND SATURDAY COFFEE – CANCELED

I will be visiting my father in Nebraska over the Easter Holiday and will be out of town this coming Saturday. For that reason, Second Saturday Coffee is canceled this month. I look forward to seeing you next month on May 9, from 8:30am – 9:30am at Dunn Brothers Coffee (120 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester).

KIM’S BILLS

Primary Seat Belt Law (HF108) –

Passed Public Safety Policy and was sent to Finance for re-referral to Public Safety Finance

Literacy Bill (HF1080) –

Passed K-12 Policy and laid over

Accountability Measures for the Department of Employment and Economic Development (HF1785) –

Passed Higher Education for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill

Lifelong Learning Accounts – LiLAs (HF72) –

Had informational hearing in Taxes

County Human Service Mandate Reductions (HF1276) –

Passed Health and Human Services Policy to be heard in Health and Human Services Finance

Physical Assistant Licensure (HF240) –

A delete-all amendment passed dealing with Special Transportation Services Broker (HF786). The bill passed

and was included in the K-12 Finance Omnibus Bill

Labor Day Start Moratorium (HF195) –

Included in the K-12 Finance Omnibus Bill

MN Partnership Genomics Funding (HF552) –

Passed Higher Education and was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill

You can find more information about bills I am working on online at:
http://www.house.mn/29B


ROCHESTER STUDENT PLAYS ROLE IN MOVING FORWARD LEGISLATION


Each year Rochester Public Schools selects gifted and talented students to participate in the Mentorship in the Community program. Participating students commit to work under the supervision of a person in a career field of their choosing. The program’s goal is to help students develop independent and critical thinking skills outside the classroom in addition to their full high school course load. Among this year’s participants was Yuna Choi who chose to work alongside me for the semester to learn the responsibilities of holding elected office at the state level.

Yuna Choi is currently a junior student at Century High School who plans to graduate with honors in 2010. She has taken honors and advanced placement courses in everything from Math and Science to Social Studies and Orchestra, and has participated in numerous extracurricular and community organizations including the Olmstead County Youth Commission. Choi hopes to become a public defense lawyer someday, and got a strong start after being named Outstanding Court of Appeals Attorney at the YMCA’s annual Youth in Government Model Assembly session, and twice lettering in Century Classical Debate.

Throughout the semester, Ms. Choi has been studying a bill (HF72) that would establish lifelong learning accounts (LiLA) and an accompanying tax credit to assist in continuing education and retraining opportunities for adult learners. Yuna put her expertise to work at the State Capitol last week, testifying in an informational hearing about the bill in the House Taxes Committee. While there are no additional resources for the tax credit this year, Ms. Choi’s efforts have laid the groundwork for the bill’s potential passage in a future legislative session.

Yuna was poised, professional, and prepared in what can often be a very intimidating situation. Our whole community can be proud of this outstanding young woman and the good work she has accomplished. She is a testament to the quality of our public schools and the rewards that come with hard work. Yuna is an outstanding student. She is a bright young woman with big dreams and great potential. Ms. Choi also has plans to hold public office in the future. I was glad to have her in my office this week, and I look forward to seeing her lead our community someday.

HOUSE PASSES $200 MILLION BONDING BILL


The House passed a capital investment bill (HF855) Monday to let $200 million in state bonds dedicated to the repair and reconstruction of critical state infrastructure across Minnesota. The legislation passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 93 to 40. The bill is designed to create Minnesota jobs as quickly as possible, shore up local bridges and other infrastructure, and complement the recently enacted federal recovery package.

The House targeted shovel-ready and paint-ready projects that will leverage additional federal recovery funds. By strategically focusing our efforts to create the maximum number of jobs, this bonding bill will be a critically important component of Minnesota’s economic recovery.

Right now Rochester’s economy is stronger than the rest of the state. The city’s unemployment rate stands at 6.9% while the statewide average topped 8.1% last month. Still, the enduring strength of Rochester’s economy relies on the strength of the state as a whole.

Specifically, the House bonding bill dedicates new funding to the following areas:

· $12.7 million for flood mitigation

· $39 million for transportation and transit infrastructure

· $11 million for local bridge replacement and rehabilitation

· $20 million the University of Minnesota asset preservation

· $30 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities asset preservation

· $20 million to improve the state’s sex offender facility at Moose Lake

· $2.1 million for veteran’s homes asset preservation

Some of those investments will be made in Rochester and the surrounding area, including:

· $675 thousand for improvements at Rochester Community and Technical College

No local projects were included in the House bonding bill. However, two projects for the Rochester Volleyball Center and a waste-to-energy steam pipes proposal were included in the Senate capital investment bill. These projects are important for our community and local economy. I’ll be working hard with members of the Rochester delegation in the House and Senate to ensure these projects are funded in the final conference report.

The bill now heads to conference committee to be reconciled with the bonding bill passed by the Senate earlier in the session. More information about HF855 can be found online at http://www.house.mn.

Kim Norton
House of Representatives-29B

NOTE:> Many readers may have participated in my District Poll and if you would like to see the results, please CLICK HERE.