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State Representative Michael Beard
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8872
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
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News and Notes: A setback for nuclear energy
News and notes from State Representative Mike Beard, District 35B – Shakopee & Prior Lake
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
In this week’s edition: Session update; Transportation Finance conference committee; A setback for nuclear energy; Introducing “Project Work/Plan”
Session update
We’re less than two weeks away from our May 18th adjournment date and starting last week we officially moved into the conference committee phase of the legislative session. Conference committees are committees made up of an equal number of Representatives and Senators (usually 5 of each) and are formed to resolve differences in finance and policy bills. Often times a conference committee meets once or twice to make some minor corrections to bill that covers a single policy issue. But at this time of year – when legislation like the Tax or Health and Human Services bill can run hundreds (and hundreds) of pages in length – some conference committee hearings can run longer than many House floor sessions. When action is finally taken on the most important conference committee bills – like the House Democrat’s Tax bill that increases taxes by more than $1.7 billion on nearly every Minnesotan in the state – I’ll be sure to send updates out as quickly as I can.
Transportation Finance conference committee
One conference committee that I was appointed to serve on by the Speaker of the House wrapped up our work last week. The Transportation Finance bill conference committee met just xx times and we were able to quickly finalize the details of a bill that will spend xx billion on transportation projects over the next two years. Because of the difficult economic situation that Minnesota faces, some tough budget choices had to be made. Though I am not in agreement with everything we did, I thought we tried to set spending priorities as best we could with the resources that were available to us. The House will most likely take legislative action on the conference committee report later this week. After that it’s off to Governor Pawlenty’s desk. Though he has not officially said whether he will sign the bill or not, I don’t think there is much in our bill that would be too controversial; those fights will come later.
A setback for nuclear energy
Last week on the floor, members of the Minnesota House had a chance to move one step closer towards repealing the moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants. An amendment to the Energy Policy Omnibus bill, offered by Rep. Tim Faust [DFL-Hinckley], would have lifted the state’s 14 year old ban and paved the way towards making Minnesota a leader in producing one of the safest, cleanest and most reliable forms of energy we have. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated. Though a similar amendment was passed by the State Senate, I don’t think there is much chance of a repeal of the moratorium surviving the conference committee process. As I’ve written to you before, a solution to this problem needs to be found quickly. Our current nuclear power program – and the hundreds of high paying, high skilled jobs that it produces – can’t fly on autopilot for too much longer.
Introducing “Project Work/Plan”
This week, I want to tell you about a great new program that is being offered by Dakota County Technical College. Project Work/Plan is a program designed to serve as a resource and support for anyone looking for a job. Project Work/Plan’s services are free and include networking opportunities, access to computer labs, career workshops, access to nonprofit and faith-based organizations and information on starting your own business. Project Work/Plan is held Monday – Thursday from 2-4 p.m. in the central commons of DCTC – 1300 145th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068.
For more information, please contact workplan [@] dctc [dot] edu or (651) 423-8612.
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