Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Congratulations to the Maple Grove Crimson girls hockey team for their 2nd place finish at the State Tournament last weekend! What a fantastic season! The Maple Grove Crimson boys hockey team stunned Blaine in the sectional playoffs this week, but came up a little short on their bid for the State Tournament. Congratulations to the Crimson for an incredible end to a great season! Good luck to our other youth teams this weekend as playoffs continue in the winter sports.
Here are the highlights from our capitol this week:
1. Budget Forecast
2. Caucus Night March 1st
3. Feed My Starving Children
Budget Forecast
Today, Minnesota Management and Budget announced our state’s budget forecast for fiscal years 2016-2017. Instead of the $1.2 billion surplus predicted in November, it looks like we’ll have a surplus of $900 million. Part of the reason for the slowing of the economy can be attributed to decreasing sales tax collection. In order to change this trend, I plan to support tax relief for seniors, veterans, small business owners, and recent college grads to put more money in the pockets of Minnesotans.
Along with easing the tax burden, I’d like to see some of the surplus go toward funding our roads and bridges. Because we have a surplus, we don’t need to raise taxes on hardworking families to pay for roads and bridges which are a basic function of government.
Tuesday, March 1st – Caucus Night!
We have the opportunity to take an active role in our democracy by attending a precinct caucus on Tuesday, March 1st starting at 7:00 PM. Precinct caucuses are the first step on the road to the primary and general elections—and each of us can play a very important role along that journey!
Caucuses provide a setting for people to gather with neighbors to discuss important issues and make their voices heard. To participate, you must be eligible to vote in the November general election and live in the precinct. You also must generally agree with the principles of the political party hosting the caucus.
In November, voters will be responsible for electing the President of the United States, all members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate and all of Minnesota's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives. The March 1st caucus is an important first step in that process.
To find the location of any precinct caucus, you can visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website here: http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us for their "Online Caucus Finder." The site also details caucus specifics and orients newcomers to this year’s electoral events, as well as lists contact information for political parties in Minnesota.
All caucuses convene at 7:00 PM. Make sure you attend and take part in this civic process!
Feed My Starving Children Event
The Feed My Starving Children event is underway (February 24-28) and the goal is to pack 2,000,000 meals for children in need! We are on our way to the goal and if you would like to help, you can sign up at your local church or call Feed My Starving Children for details. Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization that is committed to feeding children hungry in body and spirit. Food packed at their regional centers is shipped all over the world. I will be there Saturday morning – hope to see you!
The session start date of March 8th is around the corner – please let me know if you have any issues or ideas you would like to discuss. I want to hear from you! It is my honor to represent our great community; thank you! I can be reached at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, by phone at (651) 296-5502, or US mail at 13570 Grove Drive, #370, Maple Grove, MN, 55311.
Have a great weekend and enjoy our unseasonably 50-degree weather – I don’t think spring is here quite yet!
Dennis