Rep. Kim Norton - Newsletter 2/08/08
02/09/2008
Dear Neighbors,
I want to thank everyone who attended precinct caucuses in Rochester on Tuesday night. Democrats and Republicans alike garnered record turnout all across the state. Over 260,000 voters showed up at locations throughout Minnesota to make their voices heard. It is incredibly encouraging to see so many people active and engaged in the political process.
Truly, we all have a committed stake in shaping the course of our collective future – every voice matters. By getting involved, and simply showing up, we can make our communities, our state, and our country a healthier, safer, and better place to live.
I encourage you to remain informed and engaged in the process. With the legislative session starting next week, I'm asking for your input, because understanding your concerns is an essential part of being an effective advocate for our community. Please continue contacting me throughout the session with your questions, concerns, and suggestions on any issue by phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kim Norton
State Representative
D29B
*CONSTITUENT MEETING THIS WEEKEND
Second Saturday of the Month (February 9, 2008)
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Dunn Brothers Coffee
120 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester
2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Begins: February 12, 2008
Ends: May 19, 2008
CREATING JOBS AND BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
2008 is a major bonding year in the Legislature (bonding is a method of making long-term capital investments in important infrastructure projects statewide). Delivering a strong bonding bill this session will be essential in the effort to stimulate our economy. In doing so we can fund work projects throughout Minnesota in areas such as transportation, higher education, wastewater treatment, the environment, and clean water projects. I anticipate the House and Senate will reach agreement on a bonding bill early in the session as we strive to get projects started quickly and create over 10,000 new jobs across the state.
While a good bonding bill will be extremely important, putting our economy back on track is going to take more than a short-term solution. Policymakers must consider the state's role in fostering an economic climate that supports small businesses, workforce development, and entrepreneurial growth. In doing so, we need to partner with business leaders statewide in an effort to put Minnesota on the cutting edge of high-potential 21st Century industries that will create jobs and ensure economic stability well into the future.
By investing in renewable energy and the biosciences, we can establish Minnesota as a regional center for these booming industries. In addition, comprehensive efforts for improving our transportation infrastructure will ensure we are ready to meet the modern needs of business and commuter traffic. Providing a world-class education system for K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and workforce training will ensure Minnesotans are among the most well-trained and fully prepared workers in the quickly changing workforce of tomorrow. These are just some of the things the Legislature can do to ensure our economic success in the future.
In order to keep Minnesota economically competitive with other states and maintain our traditionally nation-leading quality of life, our state needs to enact solutions to meet our ongoing challenges. By acting responsibly in a time of uncertainty, we can help create economic security and pave the way for further improvements in transportation, changing the way we fund education, comprehensive reform in our state’s health care system, and long-term sustainable property tax relief.
STAY INFORMED
Along with these updates, another great way to stay informed is to read the non-partisan magazines of the House and Senate.
The House publication, Session Weekly, can be found online at http://www.house.mn/hinfo/swmain.asp
You can sign up to receive a hard copy delivered by mail to your home at http://www.house.mn/hinfo/subscribesw.asp
Over in the Senate, Senate Briefly can be found at http://www.senate.mn/briefly/
You can also watch House floor sessions at http://www.house.mn/htv/schedule.asp
You can sign up for email updates on specific bills at http://www.house.mn/leg/billsublogin.asp
You can sign up for email updates on specific committees at http://www.house.mn/maillist/mailinglist.asp
Kim Norton
House of Representatives-29B