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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
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BI-PARTISAN BILL KEEPS MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, TOURIST SITES AND 6,300 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WORKING
On Thursday June 30th, Representative Rick Hansen joined an overwhelming majority of the House and Senate to pass a bi-partisan Jobs, Environment and Agriculture Bill. The bill passed with enough time to avert a shutdown of these state services and keep Minnesota's economy, tourist sites and 6,300 public employees working. State Representative Rick Hansen was a leading contributor to this legislation.
"I worked non-stop over the last few weeks with both sides of the aisle and both the Senate and the House to see this bill through," said Hansen. "I am thrilled that we were able to work bi-partisanly to pass a consensus bill we could complete in time to keep parks, job services, and sites like the Sibley House in Mendota running."
Several key provisions offered by Representative Hansen were included in the final bill. One component is the first bill dealing with public drainage systems in over 25 years. In particular, it will study the use of grass buffer zones along drainage ditches. Water quality, wildlife and wetlands are important issues with this study.
Representative Hansen also co-authored an amendment to help fight the meth epidemic afflicting suburban and rural communities. The amendment requires the Department of Agriculture to study strategies for preventing anhydrous ammonia fertilizer theft for meth production.
Another provision authored by Hansen was in direct response to the needs of a disabled constituent. The bill will create an opportunity for a former Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employee to apply for disability benefits for an injury he incurred while working for the state.
Finally, Representative Hansen co-authored a bill to fund the Displaced Homemaker Program, a service to help former homemakers who have been divorced or widowed re-enter the workforce.
The Jobs, Environment, and Agriculture Bill funds a wide array of state government services, including the Department of Agriculture, the DNR, the Science Museum, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Explore Minnesota Tourism and the Historical Society.
"This bill is an improvement over original House funding levels," Hansen said. "It proves that when members of both parties work respectfully together, compromise is possible."
News Items
- Rep. Rick Hansen chosen as leader of Great Lakes Legislative Caucus - (Posted: Dec 27 2012 8:34AM)
- Need Holiday Gifts? Consider DNR Gift Cards - (Posted: 2012-11-27 00:00:00)
- Looking Forward to Serving, Getting the Job Done - (Posted: 2012-11-14 00:00:00)
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