Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2015 legislative session has begun, and I am honored to be representing District 32B for my third term. I will be fighting for the people and priorities of our community at the Capitol and working closely with fellow legislators and others to make good decisions with your tax dollars.
This session my committee assignments include being the Vice Chair of the Taxes Committee as well as serving on the Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee and the newly created Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Committee.
With a new Republican Majority in the House, working with a DFL-controlled Senate and a DFL Governor, one-party control of state government is now over. This is an important step in re-establishing a system of checks and balances so that the will of the people is represented in bipartisan legislation over the will of one party and their party affiliated special interest groups.
On Thursday, the first House Files were introduced in the Minnesota House. Many of these bills related to job growth and economic development, eliminating unnecessary government regulations, improving education, refocusing our attention to roads and bridges and making much needed reforms to MNsure.
Listening to Minnesotans throughout the summer and fall, it was clear that these were some of your top priorities for state government. I believe that the House and Senate can work together on these issues and come up with commonsense, bipartisan agreements that will make these goals a reality for people across the state.
Many thanks go out to you for the honor of representing Chisago County in the Minnesota House. I value your input and welcome your questions, concerns and ideas on how we can improve state government as session moves along. Please call (651.296.5377) or email me (rep.bob.barrett@house.mn) at any time. I am here to serve you!
Also, I would like to invite any constituents (including those youth interested in government as a future career) to come down to the Capitol and observe the legislature in action. You could observe the workings of the various committees as well as spend time on the House Floor during session. I would love to see you! Just give my office a call to set up a day (or part of a day) that works for you.
Sincerely,
Bob