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State Representative Linda Slocum
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7158
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
Column/LTE
LEGISLATIVE SALARY DONATED — LONG BEFORE THE OUTRAGE
To the editor:
During the government shutdown, I stood in solidarity with laid-off state workers and did not receive my paycheck. Once the shutdown was completed, I was informed by the House Budget Office that they could not donate my back pay, and I had to take my check and then donate it to a worthy cause, which is exactly what I’ve done. I wanted my salary from the shutdown to be useful in the communities I represent.
Domestic abuse prevention programs were dealt a massive cut by the majority party in the legislature. I donated to Cornerstone to try to alleviate some of the budgetary pressure they felt. Cornerstone is a domestic abuse prevention program serving both my communities of Richfield and Bloomington. Cornerstone does great work for the people in the communities I have the honor of serving and I felt this was a very worthy use of my pay from the shutdown.
I did this not for political purposes — in fact, it was done long before the recent outrage over legislative back pay — but to do the right thing, and to benefit our community. I find the journalism done on this story to be reprehensible. Few media outlets bothered to contact me and others choose to ignore my donation in an effort to portray me as a “typical politician." I always have done my best to serve my constituents honorably, and this situation is no different.
Sincerely,
Rep. Linda Slocum
District 63B
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