ST. PAUL – Today, Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) sent a letter to Republican House leaders requesting documents, notes and e-mails related to preparation and analysis of the House Republican budget targets and the transportation budget.
Rep. Thissen released the following statement:
“The legislature has required local governments to open up their communication to citizens, but has exempted itself from following the same data practice obligations. It’s time we open up all relevant legislative communication so Minnesotans can learn about the process that goes into making critical decisions about our budget.
Representative Paul Torkelson made an excellent point yesterday that we need to bring additional transparency to our decision making processes. But instead of focusing on others, the legislature should start with itself. I encourage the Republican leaders and Chairs Knoblach and Torkelson to review Luke 6:42."
Rep. Thissen has chief authored HF1065 to expand the Data Practices Act and Open Meeting Law to include the legislative branc
See Star Tribune article yesterday regarding MNDOT records requested by the Transportation Finance Committee.
Attached letters to:
Speaker Kurt Daudt
House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin
House Ways and Means Chair Jim Knoblach
House Transportation Finance committee chair Paul Torkelson