Accessibility menu
State Representative Tim Kelly
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8635
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
GOVERNOR’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON THE MARK
With the 2009 Legislative Session underway let me once again mention what an honor it is to serve as your state representative. The first couple of weeks have been quite a learning experience to say the least.
Much of my time is spent in committees these days. In all, I serve on four of them: Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight, Public Safety Finance, Public Safety Policy and Oversight, and Civil Justice.
The committee discussions are interesting and are certain to get more heated now that the Governor has given his State of the State Address, and will soon outline his fiscal vision for the next two years.
Not surprisingly, Governor Pawlenty prefers to find ways to reduce state spending to solve our projected $5 billion budget deficit as opposed to raising taxes. The Governor understands that families and job providers are already struggling to make ends meet, and that tax increases will only further compound their problems.
But I was pleased to hear that K-12 education will remain our top legislative priority, and that the Governor is in strong support of increasing funding for our schools. As a former Red Wing School Board member, I understand how critical state support is towards helping meet the need of our area schools. I’m also aware of the continued funding inequities that our rural schools face in comparison to our counterparts in the inner cities, and am determined to help narrow this gap.
As Governor Pawlenty noted, when the state economy is in the tank, it is the perfect time to reform the way government does business and improve its efficiency. And now is certainly the time to reform the way our state funds our school districts.
As we move ahead, I believe this session will feature numerous new ideas regarding K-12 education in Minnesota. And when it comes time for lawmakers to look at improving public education, we should take a cue from educators, school boards, and school superintendents in District 28A. For years, schools in Cannon Falls, Lake City, Wabasha and Red Wing have been forced to do more with less, yet have remained extremely efficient and continue to develop a fantastic educational product.
By looking at some of the models put forward by our local school districts, as well as some in the private sector, we will be able to create positive solutions and eventually put this deficit behind us.
As session moves forward, I encourage you to contact me at any time with your questions, concerns, or comments. You can call me toll free at 651-296-8635, drop me an email at rep.tim.kelly@house.mn, or send a letter to 241 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Once again, I am eager to serve as your voice at the State Capitol, and look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions in the weeks ahead.
News Items
- CONFERENCE COMMITTEES SHAPING IMPORTANT BILLS AT LEGISLATURE - (Posted: 2012-04-05 00:00:00)
- TAX RELIEF AND JOB CREATION BILL APPROVED IN MINNESOTA HOUSE - (Posted: 2012-03-22 00:00:00)
- MORE GOOD NEWS FOUND IN LATEST STATE BUDGET FORECAST - (Posted: 2012-03-06 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.