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Friends and Neighbors-

As some of you may know, today the House and the Senate voted on a bipartisan basis to override the Governor's veto of the Transportation Bill. I voted yes, to override. It was just the 14th override of a Governor's veto since before World War II.

While others saw it as a victory for Transportation, which it is, I am a bit sad today. I am disappointed that while we brought together a broad and diverse coalition of Republicans and Democrats, the State Chamber of Commerce and transportation advocates, the Governor did not accept repeated invitations to the table. I am sad that we had to override his veto to gain progress on this issue. But, after years and years of opportunity to invest in safer roads and bridges, I am satisfied that we enacted a good bill today.

TOWN HALL MEETINGS

I have two Town Hall Meetings coming up this week. The first is this Tuesday, February 26, at the Wyoming Giese Memorial Library, starting at 6:30 pm. Senator Olseen will be joining me for the discussion. Everyone is welcome.

The second is Thursday, February 28, at the North Branch Library, starting at 7 pm. Again, everyone is welcome.

CAMP OJIKETA UPDATE

As you may know, the Trust for Public Land is working with Chisago City to preserve Camp Ojiketa - 70 acres on 3,000 feet of Green Lake shoreline - as Ojiketa Regional Park. I introduced House File 2743 to receive $1.4 Million in state bonds to help purchase the land.

The good news is that the House Environment Finance Committee recommended full funding for the $1.4 Million for the project. This is the first of many steps. The next step is approval by the House Capital Investment Committee in the 2008 Bonding Bill. There are a lot of worthy projects, and the Committee will have to make tough choices. I believe that Ojiketa is worthy of state funding, and I will do what I can to make the case to the Committee.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS COLUMN

As I've written before, I usually don't just reprint my news columns in this update. But I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the Transportation Bill. Here it is...

"GETTING MINNESOTA MOVING AGAIN

Last Thursday, I voted for a responsible transportation plan (HF2800) that will get Minnesota moving again. This landmark transportation initiative will direct $6.6 billion of sorely needed funding over the next ten years into Minnesota's long-neglected transportation system. The bill will finally establish a sustainable source of reliable revenue for our state's roads and bridges and provide real property tax reform.

As a member of the House Transportation Finance Committee, I worked with members of both parties to find compromise on this important piece of legislation. As a result, this responsible transportation package received bipartisan approval in the Legislature and was fully supported by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, labor, and small business owners – including several Chisago County contractors.

Consistent with my vote for the bill, I voted to override the Governor's veto because we can't afford to neglect our crumbling roads and bridges any longer. We're $2.4 billion behind every year in maintaining our current system – clear evidence of the fact that it is simply impossible to sustain a safe and reliable 21st Century transportation system on 1980s resources.

I am supporting this bill because our property taxes have skyrocketed over the past 5 years in Chisago County, and because a large portion of that increase has been due to the lack of state funds for our county state-aid roads. More than $1.6 billion in property taxes was spent on roads and bridges statewide in 2006 – that number continues to rise. HF2800 will provide real property tax reductions in future years.

I am supporting this bill because Chisago County will receive $15.7 million in new state money to fix our County Roads. Without these funds, the county will be forced to either let our roads continue deteriorating or raise property taxes even further.North Branch Bridge over I-35, and the Hwy-8 upgrade in Lindstrom – risk long delays, and even possible rejection of the federal funds currently devoted to these projects if the bill doesn't pass. Without more state funding, the city of North Branch will likely have to raise property tax bonds of at least $4.2 million to start construction on the bridge. Both the Lindstrom and North Branch projects must be completed before new businesses will locate in those towns.

I am supporting this bill because we desperately need more state troopers patrolling our most dangerous highways, including Interstate 35 between Pine City and Forest Lake. This stretch of highway has the fastest growing rate of fatal crashes in the state; because of budget shortages, state troopers have reduced their patrols of this stretch of highway. HF2800 provides for 40 new state troopers.

I am supporting this bill because more than 31,000 new jobs a year will be created by private contractors, repairing and building our roads and bridges.

I am supporting this bill because it is the only plan that will provide the resources necessary to repair or replace all of the 13 Minnesota bridges that are in worse shape than the 35W bridge.

I campaigned saying I would vote for the transportation bill, and I have done so. I campaigned committed to reforming our property tax system, and I have done so repeatedly. I campaigned saying that I would work to find savings and efficiencies in state government at every opportunity, and I have done so (the transportation bill passed this week includes the Strategic Management task force to provide real oversight and improvements at MnDOT)."

As always, call me with any questions or ideas, at 651-296-5377, or email me at Rep.Jeremy.Kalin@House.mn.

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Jeremy Kalin
State Representative - 17B
sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/17b

Contact me at the Capitol:
Rep.Jeremy.Kalin@House.mn
651.296.5377
579 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
St. Paul MN 55155

Contact me at home:
11629 Loftman Trail
North Branch, MN 55056
651-257-9861
Jeremy@Kalin.com