Dear Neighbor,
Congratulations to all our area high school seniors who will be graduating this spring. Those students planning to pursue higher education will be interested to know last week the House passed legislation to help college students save money.
We are requiring the Minnesota Department of Education and our colleges to identify high school Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) scores that would exempt students from having to take remedial college courses. It doesn’t make sense to do the testing and then not give students credit for what they have demonstrated they already know.
Last year we also directed a tuition freeze for 2016 and a 1-percent reduction in 2017 for two-year MNSCU schools.
There also is a tuition freeze in 2017 for four-year schools. Funding was increased for the State Grant Program, which helps students from low- and middle-income families gain access to a college education.
In other news, Big Sandy Lake and the McGregor area will host this year's Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener next weekend, May 12-14.
A free community picnic from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, May 13 at Pine Rail Park in downtown McGregor will kick things off. Click here for more details on the picnic and click here for more info on the Governor's Opener.
This is the 69th year of the Governor's Opener. We will be in the final 10 days of the legislative session on fishing opener weekend. I am going to do my best to attend as much of the fishing opener as possible. It will probably involve a few extra trips between McGregor and St. Paul that weekend. For good reason you must be present to vote in the House - no call ins allowed.
The House/Senate conference committees continue to work on reconciling legislation on a long term transportation funding program, tax reform, and the three supplemental finance bills the House passed last week. We are also working on items like Real ID, a policy on law enforcement body worn cameras and a bonding bill.
I want to wish all the moms a happy Mother's Day. As you enjoy this great sunny weekend, please remember to be safe as we dust off those grills and engage in the many other warm weather activities.
Sincerely,
Dale