Dear Neighbors,
Last week, the Blandin Foundation held a series of Community Broadband Vision Meetings on the Iron Range. Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend the meeting at Mountain Iron City Hall. We were able to brainstorm possible projects, identify current shortcomings in service, and look at ways we can take an innovative approach to broadband, rather than just play catch up, so to speak. Staff from Congressman Nolan’s office was present, and I’m pleased they are engaged in this issue. Student Council members from Mountain Iron/Buhl High School joined us as well, and this highlights the interest young people have in ensuring this access is available to them.
Last fall, Blandin selected six communities including Hibbing, Chisolm, and Mt. Iron/Buhl to become “Blandin Broadband Communities.” Working with the IRRRB, this program will assist communities to study their needs, set goals, and identify possible collaborative efforts to turn broadband proposals into realities.
As you may know, I’ve introduced a bill to provide a $100 million increased investment in the Border-to-Border Broadband Program over the next two years. This is the amount recommended by the Governor’s Broadband Taskforce to keep us on pace to adequately meet statewide demand. These investments would take the form of matching grants, leveraging private capital to develop infrastructure. These public/private partnerships like the Border-to-Border Broadband Program as well as the Blandin Foundation’s initiative are crucial toward diversifying the Iron Range economy and giving an opportunity for communities all over greater Minnesota to thrive. For every $1 invested in broadband infrastructure, communities have seen up to a $10 return. I look forward to continuing this conversation so we can have 21st century technology which is a need, not a luxury in our global economy.
Down in St. Paul, broad overviews of budgets and topic areas are largely concluded, and committee attention has now moved to considering more bills. With the first committee deadline just over two weeks away (by when bills must successfully pass all required committees in either the House or the Senate), these hearings will increase in both length and frequency.
So far, I’m the chief author of three bills and have co-authored another 28. Many of these are aimed at assisting our cities, counties, and school districts either with specific infrastructure needs or their financial responsibilities in order to keep property taxes low. In addition to the broadband bill, I’m the chief author of a pair of bonding requests: HF 953, to renovate our historic auditorium at Hibbing High School and HF 954, to improve the Keewatin wastewater treatment facility. The bills I’ve co-authored do things such as improve highways in the region, create options for affordable health insurance, provide fairness in local government aid, increase county-administered land aid, and expand the working family tax credit. Yet others I’ve signed onto, such as one to create a “Start Seeing Motorcycles” license plate, were brought to me by constituents. I’m committed to expanding opportunities for families to prosper, and many of these priorities reflect this goal.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to chair the Government Operations and Elections Committee for a period of time. This was a positive experience, but I’m not the only one in my family to wield a gavel over the last week.
This past Thursday, the House Floor Session was gaveled to order by my son Jonathan, who was celebrating his 10th birthday. He showed great skill serving (briefly) as a presiding officer, and I’m happy we got to celebrate his special day together as a family.
I hope you’ll keep in touch with your viewpoints and feedback as session moves forward. Your input is important to me, and it’s an honor to be your voice at the State Capitol.
Sincerely,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative