2006 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 1

01/27/2006

Greetings and Happy New Year!

In this first legislative update of 2006, the following topics will be covered:

1- Governor’s Bonding Proposal for Rochester
2- The Future University in Rochester:
3- Representing District 30 in an Election Year
4- Eminent Domain Reform

1- Governor’s Bonding Proposal for Rochester The recent announcement by the Governor of the inclusion of $8 million for the bioscience development center in Rochester as part of his bonding priorities is welcome news. Rochester is on the cusp of becoming one of the major economic drivers in the country. We are witnessing the unique blend of medicine and technology as it grows into economic development and opportunity for our city. It is in fact very powerful that Rochester has such widespread bipartisan representation.

My absence at the Governor’s announcement was noted by the local media. For the record, the e-mail notification about the Governor’s visit arrived just a few hours before his visit to Rochester. However, I had made a commitment in November to speak to a citizens group in the Twin Cities.  I would have been unable to attend even with more notice. However, I am strongly supportive of the project and pleased the Governor has included it his bonding proposal.

While we are happy to have the Governor’s support for one of our bonding requests, there are several other local projects that the Governor did not include on his list which area legislators (of both parties) will work to have included in the final bill:  the Public Safety Training Facility: the co-location of City, County and MNDOT fleet maintenance facilities: Workforce Development Center at RCTC; funds for area trail development; completion of the National Volleyball Center.

The city is fortunate to have the support of both parties in the Senate and the House, as well as support from the Governor.  We have the opportunity to move our city forward into the future, and it will take hard work by all of us to make this dream a reality. This is not the time to let partisan politics enter into the mix. We should all be committed to continuing our bipartisan work at the state legislature. This will become even more imperative as the Rochester Higher Education Committee has just come forward with its University proposal yesterday.

2- The Future University in Rochester: Yesterday the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee presented its recommendations for the development of the University of Minnesota Rochester. The Committee, which met for the last six months, really represents the culmination of many years of advocacy by the community for creating a public university in Rochester. Do you want to know more about the University proposal? Please mark your calendars for the next “Coffee & Conversation” event!

Saturday, February 4, 2006
8 - 10 a.m. Willow Creek Middle School, Cafeteria
2425 - 11th Avenue SE

Topic:  The Future University: The Rochester Proposal Presenters:  Marilyn Stewart, Committee Chair, and Wendy Shannon, Committee member and Byron Public Schools Superintendent The Rochester Higher Education Development Committee members will review their proposal for creating a specialty university as a branch campus of the University of Minnesota in Rochester.  There will be opportunity to discuss the proposal in detail with members of the Committee and local legislators in small group discussions. Copies of the executive summary of the proposal will be available at the event.  For more information regarding the Committee’s work, visit their website at http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/rochester/index.cfm. Coffee & Conversation is a partnership of community groups promoting citizen dialogue and engagement: Rochester Area Foundation, Rochester Area Council PTSA, RNeighbors, Rochester Public Schools Community Education, Rochester Community & Technical College, League of Women Voters Rochester, and the University of Minnesota Rochester.

3- Representing District 30 in and Election Year We will have a short legislative session this year, with session starting on March 1 and ending by May 22. In 2006, every legislator and all constitutional officers are up for election and if past experience is any guide, legislators will be eager to get home and concentrate on their re-election efforts.

You are probably aware that I recently announced that I will not be seeking re-election to represent Senate District 30 but will be running for Lieutenant Governor as the running mate with Kelly Doran.  While this is a statewide campaign, it will not require my full attention until after the legislative session.

I have always worked diligently to represent all the people of Senate District 30 and have been a strong advocate for our area’s initiatives.  This year will be no exception.  I will be fully present and on the job in representing you in the 2006 legislative session. With the need to add some of our local projects to the bonding bill and the Rochester University proposal coming forward, it will be a fast-paced and intense session that will take priority for my time and attention.  One of the issues that I am particularly interested in is eminent domain reform.

4- Eminent Domain Reform: When the Highway 63 project was going forward a few years ago, several property owners contacted me because they were having difficulties as their properties were being acquired through eminent domain.  I became convinced that our state laws needed reform and have succeeded in making several changes over strong resistance.  That is about to change.  Last spring the US Supreme Court made a decision that has demonstrated that reform is needed to limit government’s ability to take and transfer property from one private party to another.  As the 2006 Legislative session begins, a broad coalition of organizations has formed which wants to strengthen personal property rights by clarifying definitions for “public use”, “blight”, and “just compensation” as those terms are used in the Minnesota eminent domain process.  Fortunately, there is now bi-partisan support for a thorough examination of Minnesota’s process.

Upcoming updates will provide you with brief previews of other issues that will be addressed in the 2006 Legislative session.  If there are specific topics you would like to have included, please let me know.

Best regards,
Sheila

Senator Sheila Kiscaden District 30
325 Capitol St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4848