Rep. Kim Norton Closing Session Legislative Report
05/27/2008
Dear Neighbors,
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned last week, after what is being called one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent memory. We worked together, stuck to the basics, and delivered results on the issues Minnesotans care about most – because that's what you elected us to do.
When I arrived at the Legislature, I worked with my colleagues in the House on several basic issues affecting all Minnesotans: Excellent Education, Fund Habitat, Cut Property Taxes, Health Care, and Lower Tuition. In my note to you in December 2007 I listed “Some Key Issues To Be Addressed” yet in 2008: Bonding, Transportation, Health Care Reform, Education Funding, Property Tax Relief.
I’m pleased to report that this year we’ve completed our commitment by delivering on the basics, providing (1) meaningful health care reform; (2) increased funding for K-12 schools; (3) significant property tax relief and (4) a strong bonding bill that provides jobs across the state. During the biennium, the Legislature also secured major movement on transportation, passed ground breaking environmental and energy policy, stabilized higher education tuition, and delivered long-overdue funding increases for Minnesota nursing homes.
By working together in a responsible, bipartisan manner, we met the challenge of balancing a $935 million budget deficit without raising taxes, and created tens of thousands of jobs for Minnesotans in a time of economic uncertainty.
Major accomplishments from the 2008 Legislative Session are listed below. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-9249 or by email at .
It has been an honor to serve our community in the Legislature. I look forward to talking with you in person this summer about the issues that affect us all, and how together we can make Minnesota an even better place to live.
Kim Norton
State Representative
NEXT CONSTITUENT MEETING (NOTE THE CANCELED JUNE MEETING)
Second Saturday of the Month (July 12th, 2008)
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Dunn Brothers Coffee
120 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
A long list of accomplishments in a number of important areas highlight the many notable success of the 2008 Legislative Session, including:
Education
· Delivered an additional $51 per student for all Minnesota schools including $940,000 for ISD #535;
· Held down tuition at state colleges and universities; and
· Provided a Teachers of Color Pilot Project grant for WSU/Rochester Schools and others.
Health Care Reform
· Increased access to health care and made coverage more affordable;
· Established new incentives for preventative care
· Enacted a statewide public health improvement plan aimed at reducing obesity and tobacco use; and
· Increased funding for nursing homes (4 percent COLA increase in '08, and 2 percent in '09).
Property Tax Relief
· Delivered $25 million in direct relief to Minnesota homeowners based on ability to pay;
· Provided an additional $60 million in Local Government Aid; and
· Implemented a 3.9 percent levy limit for local governments over the next three years, indexed for inflation.
Transportation
· Provided essential resources to maintain safe roads and bridges;
· Increased efficiency through new oversight and accountability measures; and
· Enhanced safety measures and graduated drivers licenses for teen drivers.
Jobs and Economic Development
· Made health care coverage more affordable for small employers;
· Enhanced and continued the Lifetrack job skills training grant in Rochester;
· Created 40,000 jobs through public improvement/capital investment efforts; and
· Encouraged entrepreneurship and investments in high-tech industries.
Environment and Natural Resources
· Gave voters the choice this November to dedicate a new portion of the sales tax (3/8 of one percent) to the environment and natural resources, parks, and cultural heritage;
· Invested in environmental improvements, flood mitigation efforts, water treatment facilities; and
· Established a committee to study and make recommendations on cap and trade.
Capital Improvements
· Dedicated over 70 percent of this year's bonding bill to Minnesota's higher education institutions and economic development efforts;
· Provided planning funding for the Rochester Mayo Civic Center and the Rochester Community and Technical College/Workforce co-location; and
· Delivered funding for a Southeastern Minnesota Regional Public Safety Training Center, dredging and restoration of Lake Zumbro, Chester Woods Trail, and HEAPR funding for Rochester Community and Technical College.
Additional information on over 4,000 bills introduced this biennium can be found online at http://www.house.mn.
GET YOUR VOUCHERS FOR A NEW TV CONVERTER BOX
As you know, television as we know it is changing from an analog signal to an all-digital format (DTV). Benefits of the DTV transition include freeing up frequencies for police, fire, and emergency rescue communications, allowing for advanced commercial wireless services, and allowing broadcasters to offer better picture and sound quality and more programming choices.
But, this new transition means that on February 17, 2009, TVs across America will stop working if they aren't hooked up to an appropriate digital converter box. The federal government is offering each household two vouchers worth $40 a piece to help you purchase these converter boxes. You can get your vouchers by going online to http://www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-388-2009.
If you have any questions about the switch to DTV or what you need to do to get a converter box, please don't hesitate to contact my office. I am glad to help in any way possible.
Kim Norton
House of Representatives-29B