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State Representative Matt Dean
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3018
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
NEWS COLUMN
HALFWAY THROUGH THE 2005 SESSION – WHERE WE’RE AT AND WHERE WE’RE GOING
By Matt Dean
State Representative, District 52B
The 2005 legislative session just passed the halfway point. As you know, this is my first term in the Legislature and I want to thank you for giving me the honor of representing our communities. I look forward to the work we have left to do this session as well as hearing from you about the work we do at the Capitol. If you have not yet contacted me and would like to, you’ll find my contact information at the bottom of this article and I encourage you to give me a call or an email.
I am working on several bills right now and I would like to use this space to highlight a few of them. I worked with other area legislators to put several area projects into the House bonding bill, most notably the Stillwater prison expansion and the Stillwater flood protection projects. We secured funding for a much needed 150-bed segregation unit at the prison. We also successfully lobbied for $4 million to renovate Century Community and Technical College. The House passed its bonding bill with bipartisan support and right now we are working with the Senate on a final bonding agreement. I expect that we will reach a deal and that the bonding bill will be on the governor’s desk.
I am also working on a bill that would give teachers more control over classroom expenditures. Under my bill, schools that are not making adequate yearly progress could apply for grant money from the state that goes directly to teachers for use in improving instruction and learning. Teachers are in the classroom and know best what may and may not work to improve learning, so I think it only makes sense that teachers in struggling schools have authority to make spending decisions centered on their students’ improvement.
But my issues are just a few of the many different things up for consideration this year. Legislators have introduced more than 2,000 bills for consideration so far and I expect several hundred more to come before committee deadlines in April.
Two weeks ago, I met with citizens to hear about the impact the meth epidemic has on our community. Our bills to crack down on the spread of methamphetamine and to toughen penalties for sex offenders will likely come to the House floor in early April and, while no one can make guarantees, I expect both bills to receive near unanimous support. As recent events show, these are without a doubt the two most urgent public safety issues we face and you can expect strong action on them this year.
If you would like to contact me on an issue I mentioned here or something you think I should know about, please to do. My email address is rep.matt.dean@house.mn and my phone number is 651-296-3018. My office is located at 417 State Office Building, right across the street from the State Capitol, and my door is always open for you to come visit me in person. Again, thank you for the privilege of representing you and I look forward to hearing from you as the session unfolds.
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News Items
- DEAN SWORN IN FOR FIFTH TERM - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 3:00PM)
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT DEAN SELECTED AS 2010 HENRY TOLL FELLOW - (Posted: 2010-05-26 00:00:00)
- State Rep. Dean Reacts to St. Croix Bridge Decision - (Posted: 2010-03-15 00:00:00)
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