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State Representative Tim Faust
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0518
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
NEWS COLUMN
Serious Issues Facing Minnesota – Lets Work Together
Discussion and debate on important issues contributes to the health of every community. As your state legislator, I have always encouraged that kind of open dialogue, even when folks have not agreed with me. I think most members of our community realize inflammatory attacks do not further the debate or help us make progress on issues that matter to all of us, like education, health care, transportation, and reducing property taxes. So rather than respond directly to a recent letter wrought with untruthful rhetoric, let's discuss the most important issues facing our community as we begin the 2008 legislative session.
As we move forward, it's important to consider the positive steps we took last year that will better enable us to tackle our most pressing issues in 2008.
Our schools continue to be a strong pillar of our community and I am proud of the progress we made in 2007 that began undoing the damage of the deep education cuts over the past four years. I chief authored and passed a bill that finished a school funding study, started by the Governor, which would address the inequity in our school funding formula. This is an issue I talked about continuously while campaigning, and I am encouraged by the progress of the study thus far in our efforts to secure permanent equality in state education funding.
I also chief authored a bill that increased funding for technical training in our schools, something badly needed in our area. In addition, I chief authored a bill that reformed special education testing and teaching methods in a way that better prepares children for school in the regular classroom. Not only does this lead to higher academic performance for students, but it will save hundreds of millions of dollars for schools by reducing special education costs.
In 2008, I will continue to work with legislators from both political parties and the Governor to ensure that all students, regardless of where they live, have access to high quality education, without placing an unfair burden on property tax payers.
As Vice Chair of the Agriculture, Rural Economics and Veterans affairs committee, I also authored legislation that will strengthen our agriculture economy and increase support for our returning veterans. Our investment in new biofuel development will benefit Minnesota's economy, and our area in particular. In addition, the legislation will expand Minnesota Grown programs that support our state's farmers. I also chief authored a bill that brought World War II veterans from all over the state to the World War II Memorial dedication ceremony in St. Paul.
Reducing property taxes was another one of my top priorities last legislatives session because property tax increases over the past five years have unfairly burdened hard working Minnesota families. I voted for two bills last year that would have permanently reduced property taxes to 99% of Minnesotan. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the legislation. Our bill would not have undone all the disastrous cuts to local governments of the 2003 legislative session that has fueled over $2 billion in property tax increases, but it would have been a start.
Property taxes are expecting to go up over $500 million in Minnesota next year, and given the slowing economy and slumping housing market, few can afford it. I will continue to work aggressively to reach consensus on a plan that will finally bring permanent reduce property tax to every member of our state and community.
Many other critical issues are facing Minnesota in 2008. We need to stimulate our economy by creating more jobs, investing in the manufacturing and construction sector, the hardest hit by our underperforming economy. We need to reform health care so that is affordable and accessible to working families. We need to reach consensus on a fair, comprehensive transportation plan that will adequately address the needs to repair our roads and bridges.
The core issues and goals for our state are shared by most of us regardless of our political persuasions. Most of us can agree we should work hard for better schools, fair property taxes, affordable health care, and safer roads and bridges. While some of us differ in our opinions on how best to reach these objectives, I encourage an honest dialogue over the coming weeks and months about the best way to reach these imperative goals. That is the kind of discourse our community needs and deserves, and the kind of discourse that will help all of us move Minnesota forward together in 2008.
News Items
- Kyle Herman Bill Signed into Law - (Posted: 2010-04-28 00:00:00)
- To Students, Teachers, and Parents: Have a great year - (Posted: 2009-09-14 00:00:00)
- LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONCLUDES - (Posted: 2009-05-19 00:00:00)
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