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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
Press/News Releases
PELOWSKI AUTHORS TWO BILLS TO REFORM GOVERNMENT, CUT COSTS
ST. PAUL –The Governor has signed a Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL –Winona) authored bill into law that will cut waste in government by reducing the amount of state department and agency reports that are printed and kept at the Legislative Reference Library and instead make them available online. Pelowski said the bill will save tax payer dollars at a time when little else is more important.
“We have the largest budget deficit in our state’s history so we have to find ways to provide government service for less," said Pelowski, House chair of the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee.
Under current law, a report made to the Legislature by a state department or agency must be filed by sending one copy to the Secretary of State, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, and six copies to the Legislative Reference Library. According to Pelowski, testimony in committee indicated there wasn’t a public need for the Legislative Reference Library to have six copies of each. Under the new law authored by Pelowski, only two copies must be filed with the Legislative Reference Library and the reports must be made available electronically.
“All together, agencies will save paper and printing costs for hundreds of documents,” said Robbie LaFleur, Director of the Legislative Reference Library. “The Library will ensure that print copies and electronic copies they archive will be available to legislators now and 20 years from now.”
Pelowski has also authored HF 1857, which would allow Minnesota state agencies to send various rulemaking notices via US mail or electronic mail. Under current law, agencies are required to use only US mail. Pelowski said the bill should save agencies and time and money.
“There’s no reason in today’s age we should require state agencies to exclusively use US mail for these specific notices,” said Pelowski. “This bill reforms the way government operates to recognize the life and times we live and save tax payer dollars at the same time.”
HF 1857 passed through the Government Operations committee with unanimous support and will likely be taken up on the House floor this week.
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News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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