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State Representative Debra Hilstrom
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3709
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
Column/LTE
End of Session Brings Positive Accomplishments
The 2005 legislative session, while marked by inefficiencies and frustrations, still resulted in a list of solid, positive accomplishments of which Minnesotans can be proud. The first-ever partial government shutdown in our state left residents justifiably upset. The end result, while not perfect, bodes well for all Minnesotans.
House and Senate Democrats held fast to the core values that Minnesotans have come to expect and deserve—quality education, affordable and accessible health care, and protection for taxpayers. While it is important to “get the job done," it is also important to “get the job done right.” Despite the messy process, the end result puts Minnesota back on the right track for our future.
The final agreement included 4% increases in per student school spending (double the Governor’s request) for the next two years to stop the fiscal bleeding of our schools and prevent teacher lay-offs (our local school districts were the beneficiaries of added dollars to their ’06-’07 base budgets: Osseo - $18.2 million; Anoka-Hennepin - $36.2 million; Robbinsdale - $11.4 million; and Brooklyn Center - $1.6 million); retention of 27,000 working Minnesotans on MinnesotaCare; and relief for homeowners to help hold down property taxes. In addition, money was provided to keep our buses rolling and avert many of the proposed transit cuts.
Earlier in the year the Legislature passed a sweeping bonding bill that invests in our future and will create 10,000 jobs. The minimum wage was increased for the first time since 1997. I was pleased to contribute to a strong public safety bill that cracks down on sex offenders and tackles the growing meth problem. And our higher education system received a substantial increase in base funding to stem rising tuition hikes.
For my part, I am committed to working on a bi-partisan basis for the good of our community and our state. Meaningful progress only comes when all parties negotiate in good faith and respect those with whom they disagree. We all learned lessons from the unpleasant events that led to the 2005 stalemate, lessons that hopefully will be put to good use during the 2006 session.
It is truly an honor to represent you at the Capitol. Please always feel free to contact me whenever I can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Debra Hilstrom
State Representative
Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park
News Items
- ATTORNEY GENERAL LORI SWANSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY TONY PALUMBO AND JUDICIARY CHAIRS DEBRA HILSTROM AND RON LATZ ANNOUNCE GUARDIAN LEGISLATION - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 11:33AM)
- ATTORNEY GENERAL SWANSON, COMMERCE COMMISSIONER ROTHMAN, REPRESENTATIVE HILSTROM, AND SENATOR SIEBEN ANNOUNCE BILL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM FRAUDULENT GOLD COIN DEALERS - (Posted: Jan 4 2013 11:43AM)
- ATTORNEY GENERAL LORI SWANSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY TONY PALUMBO AND JUDICIARY CHAIRS DEBRA HILSTROM AND RON LATZ ANNOUNCE GUARDIAN LEGISLATION - (Posted: 2012-11-30 00:00:00)
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