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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
NEW LEADERSHIP IN ST. PAUL
By State Rep. Paul Anderson
The leadership torch was passed June 23 when House Republicans met to elect a new minority leader. Kurt Zellers, a fourth-term legislator from Maple Grove, takes over from Marty Seifert, who resigned the position to concentrate on running for governor.
Zellers brings a wealth of experience to the position, having worked on congressional campaigns in the early ’90’s. He also has an agricultural background, since he grew up on a farm near Devils Lake, N.D.
Was in Marshall last Friday speaking to the nearly 400 young men there for the Boys’ State Convention. Just when a person may start worrying about the future leadership of this country, it’s uplifting to interact with a group of well-behaved young folks interested in government and politics. It is also great to see the Legion members who work at the convention, willing to help mold our leaders of tomorrow. They are making a difference.
A bill that may help more farmers get affordable health insurance was passed during the most recent session. The measure requires the Minnesota Department of Health to resubmit an application for federal approval so that self-employed farmers can add back depreciation to qualify for Minnesota Care.
Two other appropriations relating to agriculture were included in bills passed. The Livestock Investment Grant Program, which was very successful last year, was funded again for the coming year at a level of $1 million. Another smaller appropriation funds training and technical assistance for county and township officials relating to livestock siting issues and local zoning and land use planning.
Maybe as important as measures passed, are those that are defeated and don’t become law. A bill to increase fines for overweight trucks died in committee, as was a bill requiring Minnesota to adopt California vehicle emission standards. A mandatory foreclosure mediation bill that supposedly addressed the crisis in the housing industry was vetoed by the governor, as was the transportation policy bill that would have allowed propane and heating oil trucks to be exempt from spring road restrictions.
As part of the Omnibus Education bill, the requirement that students must pass a test in mathematics to graduate from high school was watered down to the point where I wonder if it’s still worthwhile. When the exam was first given last year, the rate of high school juniors who passed was only 37 percent. Fearing large numbers of students would not be allowed to graduate because of failing the test, the standard was revised to, in the future, allow students who fail the exam to re-take it up to twice more.
And, after taking the test three times and not ever passing it, students would still be allowed to graduate. What bothers me is that the incentive to do well on the test has been removed. If a student fails in his first attempt, do you think he or she is really going to study hard and try to do well the second or third time they take it? If there is no consequence for failing the test, it has, for the most part, lost its relevance.
Summer is upon us. Most areas have received badly needed moisture, with hail falling in some locations. Summer celebrations are also in full swing. We’ll see you at the various parades around the district.
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Rep. Anderson encourages constituents to contact his new office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached on the web at www.house.mn/13A and via email at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn. To contact Anderson by phone, call (651) 296-4317. Mail can be sent to Rep. Paul Anderson, 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
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