Dear Neighbor,
It’s hard to believe that the first week of February has already come and passed. Much of the legislature’s work through the first month of session took place in committee, meaning long committee hearings as members work on crafting and improving bills moving through the legislative process.
Transparency and Accountability for the Met Council
Late last week, Speaker Daudt and House Government Operations and Elections Chair Tim Sanders announced the formation of a subcommittee on Metropolitan Council Accountability and Transparency.
Formed in the 1960s, the Met Council is a 17 member board appointed by the governor. Over time, their role has expanded from wastewater management to include transportation, parks, urban planning and housing. The seven counties in the metropolitan area are Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington.
This unelected board has grown more powerful over the decades, and my colleagues and I want to ensure that the Met Council is listening to the needs of all its constituents both in the cities and suburbs, providing the services for which they were given authority.
First Bill Introduction
My first bill was officially introduced on Thursday. House File 638 delays the review of math standards in the state until 2020/2021. In delaying the review of our state’s math standards, we are providing continuity to our schools. The review process is long and cumbersome for teachers and students. Minnesota already has incredibly high math standards (among the highest in the U.S.) and our students are some of the top in the nation. Delaying the review of our math standards will ensure that our teachers can continue focusing on educating our students and not devote so much time and energy on the rigorous process of reviewing education standards.
Property Tax Listening Session
This past Monday, Property Tax Committee Chair Steve Drazkowski and I hosted a property tax listening session at the Rum River Library in Anoka. We were joined by Rep. Jerry Hertaus and some incredibly knowledgeable staff people.
A number of citizens expressed their concerns about rising property taxes. There was a common theme from those that attended – property taxes are rising and we need to find solutions to help ease the burden on property owners. All of the issues brought up suggest the system needs serious reform, which I look forward to working on this session.
Thank you to those of you who attended! It was great to meet and hear from so many of you on how property taxes are affecting your family budgets and your businesses.
Staying Connected
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments, or concerns on anything related to state government. It would be an honor to discuss your ideas on how we can make Minnesota better for everyone. I can be reached by phone at
651-296-1729 or via email at
rep.abigail.whelan@house.mn. You can also stay up-to-date on everything that is happening in St. Paul by visiting my
Facebook page and
Twitter account.
Thank you and enjoy your weekend,
Abigail