Friends,
I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day and your summer is treating you well. This will be the last update I can send out for a while, more on that below, but know you can always contact me for anything you may need or any questions you may have.
New Driver License Design
This past week, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety released a new look and features for Minnesota Driver's Licenses. These will be the new designs for orders processed after August 6th. Included is a new vertical orientation for those under 21 and a preview of the REAL ID-compliant license option available beginning this October. Full details are available here.
The standard Minnesota Drivers Licenses available beginning August 6th.
Appointment to Budget Office Oversight Commission
Earlier this summer, I was appointed to the Legislative Budget Office Oversight Commission. The Legislative Budget Office (LBO), a non-partisan office to provide legislators fiscal notes, was included in the 2017 State Government Finance Budget.
The objective of the Legislative Budget Office is to improve accuracy by putting fiscal projections an “arm’s length” away from both the executive and legislative branches. Having an independent body will not only increase objectivity by eliminating potential conflicts of interest which now exist but also provide a more probing and unbiased indication of how much a proposal would cost taxpayers. I am honored to have been chosen to serve on the legislative commission overseeing this important new office.
The Mankato Times covered my appointment here.
I was also appointed to serve as chair of the oversight commission. As chair, I will be able to oversee the creation and implementation of many of the policies which will guide the LBO over the next decade to come. This is an important and exciting opportunity and challenge, it is one that I am honored to take up.
Save the Date: National Night Out
This year's National Night Out is Tuesday, August 7th. I love traveling to different events throughout our community and look forward to doing so again this year!
Please Contact Me
Because of a 60-day, post-session rule, I’ll be unable to send email updates after today due to this being an election year. Thank you for the honor and privilege you have granted me to serve you and your families in the Minnesota House of Representatives. If you would like to get in touch with me during the interim, please email me at rep.bob.vogel@house.mn or call my office 651-296-7065. I welcome and appreciate hearing from you and look forward to assisting you in any way I am able.
Have a great summer and fall,
Bob