Dear Neighbor,
Here's wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are able to spend extra time enjoying the company of friends and family this week. Thanksgiving is a good time to take a step back from the daily grind and ponder our blessings.
I continue attending meetings as we prepare for the 2016 session to begin in early March. On Friday I was in St. Paul to meet with the Legislative Advisory Commission, which reviews and grants requests by state agencies for approval to spend federal funds, funding from contingent appropriation accounts and more.
As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I am eagerly anticipating the release of our state's next economic forecast, due Dec. 3. This biennial report will serve as the framework for the start of the 2016 session, before the next forecast in February puts solid numbers in place. The 2015 session closed with a positive balance on the state's bottom line and that figure has increased in subsequent months, although at a slower rate of late.
Look for more information on this subject soon. Until then, again, have a good Thanksgiving and your correspondence on the issues always is welcome.
Sincerely,
Rep. Jim Knoblach