With constituents for Catholics Day at the Capitol
With constituents in St. Paul for Chiropractors Day at the Capitol
With constituents for Golf Industry Day on the Hill
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update from the Capitol.
Woodbury Highway Interchange Bill
My legislation to fund a safety study and jump-start improvements to the 494/694/I-94 highway interchange in Woodbury made its final committee stop this week. The legislation was heard and laid over for possible inclusion into the Transportation Finance omnibus bill.
This is an important interchange for commuters and commerce in our community, and I am pleased that this initiative is advancing through the legislative process. I will keep you posted on this bill as we begin crafting and passing omnibus bills in the coming weeks.
Reforming the MSFA
On Monday, the House passed bipartisan legislation to reform the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) which violated public trust and abused their power in the use of two luxury suites at U.S. Bank Stadium.
House File 778 restructures the MSFA’s governance structure to improve accountability. Additionally, it limits their use of suites at our taxpayer-funded stadium exclusively to marketing purposes after the Legislative Auditor recently uncovered that only 29 percent of tickets to the suites previously were dedicated to marketing purposes.
It is critical that we bring reform to the troubled MSFA. From providing tickets and perks to friends, family, and political allies to the recent news about ex-Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen jumping to the front of the line to purchase seat licenses and Vikings season tickets, it is clear that additional oversight and accountability is desperately needed.
We must ensure that government agencies and officials are held accountable to taxpayers and the Minnesota citizens they serve.
Real ID Update
Real ID continues to be a top priority for Woodbury families and residents who travel, need access to federal buildings or visit military bases. This week, you may have seen in the news that the Real ID bill, which passed the House, hit a road bump in the Senate.
Getting this legislation signed into law will continue to be a top priority for me, and I will keep you updated as we negotiate and work out the final bill this session.
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As always, if you have ideas about what you would like to see happen this session or need assistance on a matter of state government, I welcome you to contact me. Please don’t hesitate to call (651-296-1147), email (rep.kelly.fenton@house.mn) or stop by my office.
Sincerely,
Kelly
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