by the numbers
4,227
Doors knocked
1006 lbs
food donated
to food shelves
Legislative Update - May 2, 2008
Friends and Neighbors-
It's a quieter day today at the State Capitol, after a long and very busy week. Several conference committees are meeting to complete their work on omnibus policy bills. I served earlier on an Elections Policy conference committee, which completed its work fairly quickly.
The Minnesota Constitution limits the legislature to formally meeting for 120 days every 2 years. The Constitution also does not allow passage of bills on the final day. We have met for 110 days in 2007-8; before the May 19 deadline, we can only meet for 9 more days.
OVERALL BUDGET BALANCING BILL
The Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate Majority Leader are slowly working toward a "global agreement" on a final budget balancing bill. I understand they will be meeting over the weekend.
I have a few provisions that may be included, depending on the overall budget agreement for each agency's budget cuts or increase(s). I will write more about those later when we reach a larger framework deal.
35W BRIDGE SURVIVORS FUND AGREEMENT
The House and Senate last night finally broken an impasse on the 35W bridge survivors compensation fund. Without any legislative action, the more than 100 affected Minnesotans and families would have been forced to divide just $1 million between them. For a few survivors, the uncompensated health care costs are reaching $500,000.
The House and Senate agreed to set a general limit of $400,000 per individual survivor. This was the Senate's main position. However, a special fund for the most severly impacted survivors will make sure that the state does not leave those survivors without remedy. This was a main priority for the House. We should take up the conference committee report on the House floor early next week.
ENERGY CONSERVATION FINANCE BILL
I have been working on House File 3669. The bill will help local governments and state buildings pay for long-term energy savings
projects, such as replacing leaky windows or inefficient boilers or furnaces. By providing energy savings for government buildings, we can help limit one of the prime factors in rising property taxes.
The bill is a collaborative effort between engineers, local cities and counties, the state Department of Commerce, and private financers like Wells Fargo bank. I really enjoy working on these kinds of challenging bills that stretch and extend my knowledge of energy conservation and finance mechanisms.
The Senate passed their version of the bill, and amended onto it several energy-related provisions which I am not sure are ready to become law as they're written. It looks like I will chair my first conference committee on this bill. We should pass the House version of the bill next week, and have just enough time to finish our conference committee negotiations next week. For important environmental and property tax reasons, I will work hard to see we get this done this year.
SESQUICENTENNIAL (MN's 150th BIRTHDAY ) EVENTS
Pasted below is a series of important announcements and events sent from the state's Sesquicentennial Commission. I hope you have a chance to celebrate our 150th anniversary as a state!
As usual, your thoughts, ideas, questions and feedback is very welcome. All my best wishes for a restful and refreshing weekend,
Jeremy
"2008 marks Minnesota's sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of its induction into the United States of America. The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is inviting all Minnesotans to join together for a commemoration of historic proportions.
Minnesota will begin a Sesquicentennial Summer in the coming days with a series of events and programs around the state and likely in your backyard. You can find a full listing of events at www.mn150years.org. We invite you to join us all summer in honoring Minnesota, our home, but especially this May. Be a part of this historic, once-in-a-lifetime event in Minnesota's history.
Statehood Day - Sunday, May 11th
Commemorations of Minnesota's ebegin in earnest on May 11th, Statehood Day. The Sesquicentennial Commission, state and national dignitaries and three very special students who have written essays about statehood will all be at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul for the Statehood Week kickoff ceremony.
- 3 p.m. - We're taking a group picture of former state officials (legislators, constitutional officers and Supreme Court Judges and their descendants on the Capitol steps. To find out more or to R.S.V.P. yourself and your family for the photo, email Megan Jung at megan@mn150years.org.
- 3:30p.m. - After a week traveling from Cannon Falls, the Sesquicentennial Wagon Train will arrive at the State Capitol and be ushered in the assembled crowd. Bells in churches and other buildings will ring in unison across the state as an auditory manifestation of our state community.
- 3:45p.m. - The ceremony will begin with the presentation of colors, the playing of national anthem and Minnesota Hail to Thee. Governor Tim Pawlenty and Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar will each make brief remarks. Three Minnesota grade-school students will read their essays on "What Statehood Means Today and Into the Future."
- By 4:30p.m. the ceremony will end and the Sesquicentennial staff will be off on their five-day journey to each of the Capitals for a Day.
Saturday May 17 & Sunday May 18
The Statehood Weekend Festival The events during Statehood Week will culminate in an epic festival on the State Capitol grounds the weekend of May 17 and 18. The festival will include food, music, entertainers, exhibitions and a little bit of all things Minnesotan. This once-in-a-lifetime festival is sure to be a delight and lasting memory for the whole family.
Saturday, May 17
Music and Performances by
Hayor Bibimma Dance Group, The Fat Cats, Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs, The Black Story Tellers Alliance, Josiah Wordsworth, The Westside Band and Kid Power with Rachel Kroog
Saturday's Special Events
- A Vintage Aircraft Flyover at 12:30 p.m.br
- The Minnesota Statehood Commemorative Postage Stamp First Day Issue Ceremony at 1p.m.
- Native American drumming and dancing demonstrations
Sunday, May 18
Music and Performances by
Salsa del Soul, Young Dance, Rose McGee; Poet and Storyteller, Theatre of Fools, Tales with Tails, The Teddy Bear Band, The Jack Brass Band and The Chris Koza Band
Sunday's Special Event:
- Statehood Ceremony "Honoring Those Who Serve" - 6:58 p.m.
National Guard Flyover 6:58p.m. (18:58 military time)
We'll recognize public servants, citizen volunteers, and members of our armed forces on the steps of the Capitol. Includes an all-state choir led by Philip Brunelle, and speakers that include Governor Tim Pawlenty and other dignitaries. There will also be a satellite link to our troops stationed in Iraq. - 8:45p.m. The week ends with fireworks over the State Capitol. A breathtaking display, sponsored by Target.
As a very special part of the Minnesota Statehood Weekend Festival, volunteers from the Emergency Foodshelf Network of New Hope will collect non-perishable food items on both May 17 and May 18 at the Capitol grounds. The EFN hopes to collect enough food to feed 10,000 individuals during the two-day festival. As an added bonus, for every three times individuals donate, Taco Bell will give give them a certificate for a free taco.
Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to the Capitol grounds.
Other Events this May
There is a lot going on this May as Minnesotans all across the state get ready for the big 1-5-0. You can find a complete event list at www.mn150years.org, and below are a few highlights.
- May 3: Ann Reed's "Song For Minnesota" debuts at the Fitzgerald theater at 8:00p.m. Visit www.mpr.org for more information.
- May 4 -11: The Sesquicentennial Wagon Train drives from Cannon Falls to St. Paul, arriving on Statehood Day, May 11, to kickoff Statehood Week. Check www.mn150years.org for details.
- May 6: Declaration of Independence arrives at the Minnesota History Center for Statehood Week events. The Declaration exhibit, including many of Minnesota's founding documents, will be free and open to the public through May 18th.
- May 10: Minnesota Twins & Boston Red Sox game at the Metrodome honors Minnesota's Sesquicentennial. Pre-game festivities on the Twins Plaza and 1860s-style baseball game on the field before the 6:10 p.m. Twins-Red Sox showdown. Go to http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com for tickets.
- May 11: The St. Paul Saints face the Grand Prairie Airhogs and host "Happy Statehood Day" at Midway Stadium. The game starts at 1:05 p.m., but get there early to try and win a Minnesota Sesquicentennial t-shirt.
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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