Dear Neighbors,
The Minnesota Legislature will convene into session on March 8th. This is a much later start date than normal and was chosen with the intent of causing minimal impact to the construction happening at the Capitol. Some of the rehabilitation is viewable from the outside now and the people of Minnesota finally have some better assurance their historical Capitol building will be standing strong for another 100 years.
The start date doesn’t mean work isn’t being done. All members of the Legislature, whether Democrat or Republican, have been working since adjournment of last session with state agencies and groups in our communities to ensure we’re as ready as possible to make decisions when session starts. A lot of time is dedicated year-round attempting to learn as much as possible about the policies on which we are asked to vote.
Since last session I have been regularly meeting with the Prison Population Task Force which is comprised of members of the Minnesota House and Senate as well as various state agencies, coalitions representing advocacy groups around victims, law enforcement, mental health and chemical dependency, to name a few. Minnesota currently has a need for over 700 prison beds. This group is discussing everything from the possibility of building a new addition to a prison, to changing some sentencing guidelines, to better care for those who are in prison because of chemical/substance abuse issues.
I also sit on the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security. This group meets to discuss the ongoing needs of life safety and security at the entire Capitol complex. It’s important to realize the Capitol complex isn’t just the historical State Capitol building alone; it includes the Veterans, Judicial, and Transportation buildings, the History Center, and several other facilities regularly visited by the public and school children.
The committee is chaired by Lt. Gov Tina Smith and the legislative members are Rep. Jim Nash and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (both Republicans) and Sen. Scott Dibble and me (both Democrats). Other members include Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, leadership of the Minnesota State Patrol State Capitol Division, the House and Senate Sergeants-at-Arms, staff from the Minnesota Historical Society and Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, and outside security experts. Noting party affiliation is important here since so many people are watching the news and social media highlights such regularly divisive politics on our national level. This group, however, has worked together on a bipartisan basis to advance the interest of the public and preserving the continuity of government in the event of natural or manmade disasters. We will be rolling out proposals supported by all to make the investments necessary to make sure we have a complex which is as safe as possible for school children, visitors, staff, legislators and the law enforcement and first responders who are charged with responding to any incidents.
During this past year’s special session, there was an incident outside the State Office Building – where the Senate and House were in session – and gunfire was exchanged. Luckily no one was injured, but it was a wakeup call for everyone to understand what capabilities exist to keep everyone safe. The Minnesota State Patrol is charged with security of the Capitol Complex. They work closely with the St. Paul Police Department and I am proud of the work demonstrated by both agencies improving the response and safety.
Friends in Need Foodshelf
If you’ve been in downtown St. Paul Park recently you may have noticed the new construction behind Carbone’s and the Park Café area. If you didn’t already know, it is the new facility for the Friends in Need Foodshelf. This was built with help from the Northern Tier Refinery and ongoing community support. Our communities are great and we should all be proud of what we can make happen when we come together.
Town Hall Meeting
Ahead of the 2016 session, I hope you will join me for a Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, March 2 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.at Cottage Grove City Hall (12800 Ravine Pkwy). I’ll be joined by Sen. Sieben and Rep. McNamara for what I hope will be an open, engaging, and informative conversation. Please bring any questions and input you may have about the upcoming issues this legislative session.
Free Tax Assistance
With the deadline for income tax filing less than two months away, free help is available with return preparation. Volunteers are available to assist taxpayers with disabilities, those with low-to-moderate incomes, and seniors at the following locations in the community:
South Washington Senior Center, 8400 E Point Douglas Rd S, Cottage Grove (Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; call 651-458-6650 for an appointment)
South St. Paul Senior Center, 100 7th Ave N, South St. Paul (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; call 651-306-3690 for an appointment)
Taxpayers are asked to bring their social security card, picture ID, a blank or canceled check for direct deposit, 2014 tax return, all 2015 tax forms including W-2s, 1099s and other documentation of income. For more information, please visit theMinnesota Department of Revenue.
St. Paul Park Fire Department Ham & Turkey Raffle
Mark your calendars for Friday, March 25 for the bi-annual Ham & Turkey Raffle to support the St. Paul Park Fire Department. The fun starts at 4:00 p.m. at the Park Place Sports Bar (200 E Broadway Ave). As always, this is a can’t-miss event, and the funds raised are crucial for the operations of the department. I hope to see you there.
I encourage you to stay in touch with me as we come upon the Legislative Session. Feel free to email me or call me anytime at651-296-4342 if you have any questions or comments, or if I can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Dan Schoen
State Representative