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March
13,
2017
Dear
friends
and
neighbors,
March
is
a
very
busy
month
at
the
legislature.
Friday
marked
the
first
committee
deadline.
Starting
this
week,
no
new
bills
can
be
introduced
to
the
Senate.
The
next
deadline
is
at
the
end
of
the
week,
when
all
bills
must
have
received
a
hearing
in
either
Chamber.
After
the
final
deadline
of
March
31st,
we
wait
for
the
Governor
to
either
sign
off
on
legislation
we’ve
passed
or
begin
the
Conference
Committee
process
to
negotiate
final
the
language
of
a
bill
that
is
acceptable
for
both
parties.
These
deadlines
are
much
earlier
than
in
year’s
past.
This
is
to
help
the
legislature
stay
on
task
and
finish
its
work
with
plenty
of
time
for
the
Governor
to
review
its
bills.
With
careful
and
transparent
planning,
we
can
avoid
end-of-session
debacles,
special
sessions,
and
dreaded
government
shutdowns.
You
may
be
wondering
what
has
happened
to
the
bills
I’ve
mentioned
that
passed
through
committees,
but
have
yet
to
receive
a
full
vote
from
the
Senate.
Legislation
that
is
“recommended
to
pass”
from
committee
is
sent
to
the
Senate
Floor
for
debate,
then
a
full
vote.
If
passed
off
the
Floor,
the
Governor
is
expected
to
sign
and
that
bill
becomes
law.
The
wetland
bill
I’ve
mentioned
in
previous
weeks
is
a
good
illustration
of
this
process,
as
it
became
law
just
last
week.
It
provides
the
means
to
continue
road
construction
in
our
district,
meaning
our
commutes
are
about
to
be
safer
and
smoother.
Other
legislation
that
gets
a
hearing
by
a
committee
can
be
“laid
over
for
possible
inclusion.”
That
means
the
bill
will
be
considered
at
a
later
time
for
inclusion
into
a
larger
“omnibus”
bill.
There
will
likely
be
an
omnibus
transportation,
bonding,
agriculture,
and
tax
bill.
An
omnibus
transportation
bill,
for
example,
will
comprise
several
smaller,
noncontroversial
bills
that
authorize
construction
for
roads
and
bridges
throughout
the
state.
It
would
take
too
long
to
vote
on
each
bill
separately,
so
members
of
the
Transportation
Committee
develop
one
comprehensive
–
or
omnibus
–
bill
to
present
to
the
Senate.
Many
bills
I’ve
authored
this
session
fall
into
this
category.
There
are
a
couple
other
bills
to
feature
this
week.
Please
read
on
for
more
information!
Permitting
Minnow
Importation
in
Minnesota
Minnesota
is
one
of
only
two
states
in
the
country
that
prohibits
minnow
importation.
That
ban
has
resulted
in
a
10-year
minnow
shortage,
fisheries
and
bait
shops
simply
can’t
keep
up
with
demand.
So,
the
owners
will
go
across
state
lines,
which
is
illegal,
to
get
minnows
for
their
customers.
This
is
costly
for
businesses
and
puts
consumers
at
risk.
Without
any
standards
or
control,
we
can’t
know
where
the
fish
are
coming
from,
if
they’ve
been
tested
for
disease,
or
whether
they
are
priced
fairly.
Senate
File
1370
would
remedy
these
issues
by
finally
allowing
businesses
to
import
minnows
from
health-certified
sources.
There
are
so
many
fisheries
and
bait
shops
in
our
area
that
have
voiced
support
for
this
bill.
I’m
happy
to
report
it
has
passed
through
the
Senate
Environment
Finance
Committee
this
week
and
will
be
considered
for
a
full
vote
later
this
session.
Fair
Funding
for
Minnesota
Schools
The
school
districts
in
our
area
cover
many
more
square
miles
than
those
closer
to
the
cities.
Kids
have
to
travel
from
much
further
distances
to
get
to
school.
But
these
districts
don’t
receive
enough
money
to
cover
the
extra
transportation
costs.
So,
they
are
forced
to
take
money
that
is
intended
for
the
classroom
and
use
it
just
to
bus
kids
to
and
from
school.
This
isn’t
fair;
rural
schools
should
not
have
to
reduce
opportunities
in
the
classroom
just
to
provide
transportation
for
their
students.
Rather,
the
funding
formula
should
factor
in
these
costs.
Senate
File
1026
fills
the
gap
between
the
actual
costs
and
the
money
the
school
gets
from
the
state
by
authorizing
a
new
path
to
pay
for
student
transportation.
This
bill
will
ensure
fairness
in
school
funding
across
districts
in
Minnesota
and
give
Forest
Lake
and
Chisago
students
access
to
the
same
resources
that
metro
area
kids
get
too.
Survey
Results
Thanks
to
all
who
participated
in
last
week’s
budget
survey.
We
are
collecting
the
results
and
will
share
them
with
you
next
week!
Thanks
for
reading
this
week’s
legislative
update.
Please
get
in
touch
with
my
office
if
you
have
any
questions
or
concerns
about
what
you’ve
read!
Sincerely,
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