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State Representative Tim Sanders
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4226
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
EMAIL UPDATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2009
Friends and Neighbors,
It has been a very busy week down in St. Paul. Here are some of the highlights:
In this issue:
1. Town Hall Meeting and Survey
2. Visiting with Blaine residents
3. Legislative Budget Hearing
4. First Bill Hearing
5. Voter ID voted down
6. Stay informed about what’s going on
1. Town Hall Meeting and Survey
Coming up on Saturday February 21 I will be hosting my first Town Hall Meeting.
The meeting will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. It will be held in the Blaine City Council Chambers. I encourage you to mark this event on your calendars and attend!
Also my 2009 Legislative Survey is available for you to take. I value your feedback on the important issues the Legislature will be facing this year. Please visit my website, www.house.mn/51A to take the survey.
2. Visiting with Blaine residents
Every day there are dozens of groups coming to the Capitol for their “Day on the Hill”, and many of them provide constituents with the opportunity to come and talk to their representative about an issue. This week I have had the pleasure to meet several residents of 51A through these events including members of IBEW and the Minnesota Psychologists Association; as well as Blaine High School students. It was great to be able to talk to these, and a number of other, individuals about an issue of great importance to them.
3. Legislative Budget Hearing
On Thursday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. Legislators from both sides of the aisle and from both chambers of the Legislature will be meeting at the Coon Rapids City Hall, located at 11155 Robinson Drive. The purpose of this meeting is to be a public budget hearing on the state budget. It’s a chance for people like you to come and let Legislative Leaders know where you stand on the issue and your thoughts on what should be done.
I will be attending this meeting, along with other elected officials from our area. I would encourage you to mark this on your calendar and try to attend. In preparation for the anticipated crowds there has been a website set up where interested people can sign up to speak at these meetings. I would encourage you to sign up if you would like to share your ideas by visiting http://www.house.mn/budgetsignup.asp?loc=CoonRapids.
4. First Bill Hearing
Recently I had my first bill heard in the Game, Fish, and Forestry Division. My bill would amend current law by adding that veterans who have received a purple heart or that have a service-connected disability rated at 70 percent or more would receive preference from the Department of Natural Resources when it selects individuals through lotteries for fish and game permits and licenses.
Currently the preference is for those who are either currently serving in the U.S. armed forces (including the National Guard), or those who have served during the past 24 months. The preference is used when selecting individuals for certain turkey, bear, antlerless deer, and special hunt permits.
The bill would also require the commissioner to give preference to the service members and veterans. The commissioner is currently allowed to, but not required to do so.
I felt the bill was received favorably by the committee. It was held over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Game and Fish Bill, and I am hopeful it will be included.
5. Voter ID Bill voted down
Committees are really kicking into high gear now with a number of important issues finally getting a hearing. One of these is a proposal to require each voter to show a photo ID before they are allowed to vote. This bill, HF 57, would have helped Minnesota cut down on current – and potential – voter fraud. Not only that, but the bill would have provided, free of charge, a photo ID to anyone who did not already have one. The right to vote is one I hold very dearly and I am convinced this bill would have protected, not hindered, the ability to exercise this right. Unfortunately, the majority of the committee did not share this view, and it was voted down 11-8. Look for this bill to come up again in the future though, as I’m sure we have not heard the last of it.
6. Stay informed about what’s going on
I’d like to encourage you to take a minute a visit my website, www.house.mn/51A. There you will find my latest news releases on what’s going on at the Capitol. You can take a few minutes and answer my 2009 Legislative Survey. You can also listen to my thoughts by downloading my podcast. If you have iTunes you can subscribe to my podcast. Just search for “Rep. Tim Sanders” in the iTunes Store or click this link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=302202741
Please feel free to contact me on the budget, or any other legislative issue. You can email me at rep.tim.sanders@house.mn or call me at 651-296-4226.
Until next time,
Tim
News Items
- 2013 Legislative Survey Results - (Posted: May 14 2013 10:16AM)
- Legislative Update from Rep. Sanders - (Posted: Mar 14 2013 12:00AM)
- Budget Outlook Improves - (Posted: Mar 1 2013 5:38PM)
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