One of the biggest items of business in the final days of the session was a capital investment bill which bonds to pay for various projects throughout the state. We had an agreement at the end of the 2013 session that this year’s bonding bill would be $846 million and that is the number we stuck to. The one caveat is a stand-alone $200 million cash bill was added to fund additional purposes. The library in Perham will receive funding. Disappointingly, projects at the colleges in Fergus Falls and Wadena, and a trail between Pelican Rapids and Perham were not included.
It also is disappointing the majority avoided examining improvements that could be made to help MNsure perform better and operate more efficiently. We have had scores of citizens forced off their insurance, face problems obtaining insurance or had their personal data privacy compromised. We in the minority offered solutions, but they were ignored.
We can talk about these issues and others during a series of town hall meetings I will host Friday with Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen. Here are the essentials:
Perham Town Hall
Friday, May 23, 8:30-10 a.m.
Lakes Cafe 136 W. Main St., Perham,
Pelican Rapids Town Hall
Friday, May 23, 10:45-12:15 p.m.
Muddy Moose 30 N. Broadway, Pelican Rapids
Fergus Falls Town Hall
Friday, May 23, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
LB Homes, 805 E. Channing Ave., Fergus Falls
(former Eisenhower Elementary School building)
Battle Lake Town Hall
Friday, May 23, 3:45 PM–5:00 p.m.
Good Samaritan, 105 Glenhaven Dr., Battle Lake
I hope you can attend one or more of these meetings. Your correspondence always is appreciated. Until then, take care.
Sincerely,
Bud