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RELEASE: Metsa returns to St. Paul for 3rd Term as State Rep.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Metsa returns to St. Paul for 3rd Term as State Rep.

Will focus on paid leave; Range bonding initiatives

Saint Paul, Minn. – Today state Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL – Virgina) took the oath of office in the newly restored State Capitol to begin his third term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The swearing-in coincided with the opening day of the 90th Legislative Session. Rep. Metsa is anxious to get to work major tasks including passing a two-year state budget, as well as completing some of the unfinished business of the previous session: specifically a bonding bill and a package of tax legislation.

“Minnesotans expect us to get our work done on time and in a manner that improves the way of life for people, and last session we saw unnecessary partisanship get in the way of accomplishing some pretty good things,” Rep. Metsa said. “I’m hopeful my friends on the other side of the aisle can come to the table in the spirit of cooperation so we can deliver some results for regular Minnesotans.”

His most immediate priority is to finish work on a bonding bill, and include in it such projects for the Iron Range as the colocation of the Arrowhead Equal Opportunity Agency and the Range Mental Health Center, funding for Highway 53, and Renovations at the Miners Memorial Building in Virginia, and others.

“These important projects represent not only improvements for our region, but also create much needed jobs,” Rep. Metsa said. “I’m committed to working hard to ensure their inclusion in a bonding bill.”

This session, Rep. Metsa also plans to renew his push for Paid Family and Medical Leave. A version of this legislation was included in the Senate’s tax bill last session, but was dropped during end of session negotiations.

“It remains unacceptable that we’re the only industrialized nation in the world without this policy in place to ensure folks can take care of a newborn, or a sick or elderly family member,” Rep. Metsa said. “This is something that I think legislators of all political stripes should be able to rally around and support, but deep-pocketed special interests have gotten in the way. With more large companies expanding their leave policies, it only makes sense for the state to ensure all workers have this available to them.”

Throughout the session, Rep. Metsa encourages constituents to write or call with feedback, questions, or ideas about any legislative topic. He can be reached by phone at the capitol at 651-296-0170 or by email at rep.jason.metsa@house.mn. Another way to stay up to date about happenings at the legislature is to sign up for his email list, to which he sends periodic updates. Constituents can subscribe at his House webpage at www.house.mn/6a.