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State Representative Tom Anzelc
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4936
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
Press/News Releases
2010 Session Begins: Anzelc says jobs and the economy most important
ST. PAUL, MN – State Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL – Balsam Township, and lawmakers from across the state returned to the State Capitol today for the start of the 2010 legislative session, which began with an introduction of a jobs-focused Capital Investment bill that could create over 10,000 jobs. Anzelc said the quick start matches the sense of urgency he hears from his constituents about the need to focus on jobs and the economy.
“The face of this session needs to be that of a Minnesota worker who has been tirelessly looking for a job to support his family," said Anzelc. “In my district and across the state there are far too many of those faces and they are looking at the State Legislature to take action.”
Although there signs the economy is headed in the right direction, the 140,000 Minnesota jobs that have been lost since the recession began have not yet come back. In Koochiching and Lake of the Woods County unemployment remains at around 10%. Anzelc said the best way for the Legislature to have an immediate impact on jobs is through a Capital Investment bill that targets shovel-ready infrastructure projects.
“Even conservative estimates indicate a $1 billion bonding bill will create 10,000 jobs and there are over $4 billion in bonding requests,” said Anzelc. “We should prioritize the repair projects that can begin quickly and those that will create the most jobs. The sooner we get to work and pass this bill the sooner we will be making a difference for our workers.”
An overarching task for the Legislature will be to balance a $1.2 billion budget deficit on top of the $6.4 billion deficit from last session. Anzelc said he understands that difficult choices will be necessary, but will push for the Legislature to prioritize the long term driver of our economy – education.
“It won’t be easy to balance this budget without causing some pain, but we will be back here again and again if we don’t preserve our education system,” said Anzelc. “The reason Minnesota has thrived for decades has been our world class public schools. It’s what prepares our students to be the successful Minnesota workers who drive our economy. We cannot afford to sacrifice our quality public school system.”
Anzelc was highly critical of the Governor’s recent decision to delay $420 million in payment to public schools in order to cover the state’s cash flow problems, which will force some school districts to borrow themselves. This comes in addition to the Governors unallotment cut to Minnesota schools which came in the form of a $1.7 billion funding shift.
“We have a Governor who has starved our state’s budget and his answer is to reach into the backpacks of Minnesota students for their lunch money,” said Anzelc. “It’s time to stop punishing students and property tax payers by kicking the can down the road.”
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News Items
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE TOM ANZELC APPOINTED VICE-CHAIR OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE - (Posted: Dec 21 2012 12:00AM)
- Rep. Tom Anzelc participates in Governor Dayton’s “Working for Minnesota Jobs” discussion with Essar Steel and Magnetation - (Posted: 2012-10-03 00:00:00)
- REP. ANZELC: DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE PROVIDES DESPERATELY NEEDED STATE AID - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
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