Dear Neighbor,
Barb and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Just one quick legislative note this time: We have received our committee assignments for the next two years and two of the panels I will serve pertain to agriculture – one policy and the other finance. I also will be on committees related to state government finance, transportation, and mining/outdoors recreation.
Some of these committees reflect changes to the overall committee structure as Republicans put things in place to step in as the House majority in 2015. For example, I am pleased to see Agriculture Finance is once again a stand-alone panel after Democrats lumped it in with an environmental committee (chaired by a member from Minneapolis) the last two years. Strong objections to that set-up were ignored but, thank goodness, we have restored Ag. Finance as its own committee so issues in this extremely important area will be examined on their own.
Another change is the creation of a Mining and Outdoors Recreation Policy Committee. Both aspects are large factors in our state economy, especially in greater Minnesota. Decisions we make now could strengthen ourselves for the long haul. We can take a closer look at specifics once details become available regarding any number of proposals.
I will keep you up to speed. Until then, stay in touch and here’s wishing you and yours healthy and happy holidays.
Sincerely,
Mark