Dear neighbors,
As we prepare to break for the Easter/Passover holiday, the House and Senate are continuing to assemble the state budget. Many times the public hears the partisan divide, and there is one. But this week there were two unanimous votes that give me hope that we can work together to complete a fruitful legislative session.
Legacy
Minnesotans take pride and enjoyment from our natural resources and the arts. The Legacy bill allocates constitutionally dedicated funds to clean water, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. The package funds all parts of the state and includes many diverse projects and initiatives, including the Outdoor Heritage Fund, Clean Water Fund, Parks and Trails Fund and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The bill passed unanimously and I applaud Rep. Bob Gunther for his bi-partisan efforts assembling and presenting a balanced and fair bill.
I was happy to support the bill which includes two great projects for our area. The first is additional funding for the Children’s Museum for interactive exhibits and outreach. The second is the reconstruction of the Minnesota Square Park pavilion in St. Peter. I’ll continue to work hard to assure these are in the final bill.
Agriculture Finance
Agriculture is an important part of Minnesota’s story and a vital part of our present. It’s important that we continue to support what I consider to be the bedrock or our economy. The agriculture finance bill earned unanimous support. With no new funds targeted for agriculture by the House leadership this presented a challenge. We could have and should have done better in several areas, but we were able to come together behind a balanced bill.
When we come back to finish the session, I’ll focus my efforts on finding common ground to achieve a responsible budget for Minnesota. It won’t be easy. We remain so far apart on key issues including funding for mental health, particularly staffing at the Security Hospital. A compromise transportation bill is always hard to accomplish and this year will be no different. But, what happened this week should give some hope. After all, the Twins are in first place.
Please let me know if you if you have questions or concerns about upcoming legislation. I am here to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Clark Johnson
State Representative