Dear Friends,
Thank you to everyone who sent in their thoughts and feedback about the three tax proposals mentioned in my last update. I really appreciated your overwhelming response because your feedback is tremendously helpful to me as I make decisions on how to vote on tax proposals involving your hard-earned dollars.
I also want to thank those of you who have responded to my 2013 Legislative Survey. I'm grateful to have had such a high response rate. With under six weeks remaining in session, things will start to move quickly and the comments and responses from the surveys will be a very useful as we make important decisions on the budget and other major issues.
If you haven't taken the survey yet, or if you received one and would like to save yourself a stamp, you can take the survey by clicking here. I look forward to reading your responses!
Easter Break
Last week the legislature was on Easter break, and I had the chance to visit and meet with a number of constituents. I also was able to sit down with the Apple Valley Sun Thisweek, and spoke with Tad Johnson about the first half of the 2013 session, and the work I've been doing on a number of pieces of legislation. You can read his writeup by clicking here.
Budget Work Continues
This week in committee, we began to dig into the Omnibus Finance bills for Education, State Government Finance and Veterans Affairs, and Legacy committees. All finance bills have to be heard by the April 19th deadline, so it will be a hectic couple of weeks as we race to fully examine these bills before that deadline. Once finalized, those bills will eventually come to the floor as pieces of the 2014-2015 biennium budget.
If you have thoughts or questions about specific aspects of the Omnibus bills, or any legislation you would like to see included in these bills, I hope you'll contact me. As always, you can reach my office by calling 651-296-4306 or by email at rep.anna.wills@house.mn.
In the Community
I had the chance today to meet with students, teachers, and staff from the School of Environmental Studies (SES) in Apple Valley. I was impressed with the students' dedication to their education and long-term goals. SES is an optional public high school in District 196 that was developed in a unique partnership with the school district, the city of Apple Valley, and the State of Minnesota via the Minnesota Zoo. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.district196.org/ses/.
I also want to extend special congratulations to Alexander Duffey, Travis Diver, and Samuel Stern from Rosemount on earning the rank of Eagle Scout! Congratulations to you all, Rosemount is proud of your hard work!
Eagle Scouts Alexander Duffey and Travis Diver with Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste.
Mayors Day
The Corporation for National and Community Service is launching the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service this coming Tuesday, April 9th. Over 700 mayors from around the country will recognize the benefits of national service in their local communities. To find out more about Mayors Day, and which cities are participating, please visit their website by clicking here. A special shout-out to Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste for participating!
Have a great weekend,
Anna Wills
State Representative, District 57B