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Minnesota House of Representatives

State Representative Kelby Woodard

221 State Office BuildingState Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7065

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Posted: 2011-01-21 00:00:00
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E-mail update

FAST START TO 2011 SESSION

Neighbor-

The 2011 legislative session is barely underway, but you already can see initiatives we talked about last fall taking root at the Capitol.

It was a humbling, unforgettable experience to take my first oath of office on the House floor, but we got down to business in short order. In fact, a pair of bills designed to help people get back to work, spur small-business growth, and bring common sense to government spending were revealed within a week of the session's start. Those two bills are a direct reflection of new priorities at the Capitol and a new direction for Minnesota.

The budget bill makes so much economic sense its hard to imagine we haven't been doing this all along. It simply identifies the amount of revenue the state has and then sets its spending accordingly, starting with our priorities like public safety and education and continuing to other areas. This is exactly what families and small business owners do every day and government is long overdue in adopting this approach.

There has been a lot of talk about our forecast for a $6.2 billion budget shortfall in the upcoming biennium. The fact is, state revenue is actually expected to rise by 5 percent in that time. The problem is the states spending commitments outpace that growth by $6.2 billion. The way I see it, we don't have a shortfall, we have a budget to acknowledge.

If we are looking to increase revenue, the best way is by bringing renewed life to our private-sector economy, namely opening the door for small businesses to set up shop or expand in our state. The latest Tax Foundation rankings show Minnesota is 43rd nationally in terms of its business tax climate (http://www.taxfoundation.org). That puts us at a huge disadvantage in today's global economy and we will be working this session to improve our standing in that regard.

We started by introducing a bill to speed up turnaround times for obtaining permits. Minnesota's permit process is drawn-out compared with neighboring states and that has resulted in frustration among business owners. We can't afford to lose businesses to our border states because of the length of time and uncertainty involved in the state's current permitting process.

The new bill includes six components to streamline the procedure. Notably, it establishes a 150-day goal for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to issue permits, and requires a report on applications not meeting that goal. In order to protect our environment, the bill also includes standards pertaining to air, water and hazardous waste that are more stringent than any similar federal equivalent.

These two bills are just the tip of what's to come in the Legislature this session, but our early progress gives an idea of where our focus lies and shows we received the message Minnesotans have sent. It is our job to fulfill our obligations to citizens of this state and I am confident we will build on this session's strong start and put ourselves on track for a return to prosperity.

Please continue providing me with your input as we progress through the 2011 session, especially as they pertain to my committee assignments: Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance, Education Finance, and Education Reform committees. The best way to reach me is by e-mailing rep.kelby.woodard@house.mn or by calling (651) 296-7065.

Also, please forward this e-mail to anyone you think may want to receive my periodic updates. Anyone can sign up to receive them at my official legislative Web site (www.house.mn/25B).

Sincerely,
Kelby

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