ST. PAUL – Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Lake Shore, took the oath of office in the Minnesota House of Representatives Tuesday during the 89th Legislature’s swearing-in process at the Capitol.
Anderson was elected in November to represent District 9A for a second term. He is serving four House committees this biennium. Two pertain to agriculture – one policy and the other finance. Anderson also will be on committees related to government operations, transportation, and mining/outdoors recreation.
“Those committee assignments put me in position to have a direct say on issues that are key to our statewide economy and have significant impacts in our area,” Anderson said. “We are at a crossroads in a number of areas and decisions we make this year need to be made with the long term in mind. That is especially true as we consider a state budget, where two-year plans often create commitments in perpetuity.”
Anderson and fellow Republicans carry a majority in the House this biennium. That changes things from his first term in 2013-14 when Democrats had power in both the House and Senate.
“Minority, majority, it doesn’t change the approach I’ve had since the day I first took office,” Anderson said. “There’s one question I ask myself every time I see a new bill: ‘How will this help Minnesotans?’ If it won’t help Minnesotans, then let’s skip it and move on to the next thing that will. That’s our job.”
Anderson said he welcomes area residents to call his legislative office at (651) 296-4293 or email rep.mark.anderson@house.mn to provide input or set up an appointment at his St. Paul office – 579 State Office Building.
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