Greetings from the Capitol!
Today I had the honor of once again taking the oath of office to serve as State Representative. Now, we can get down to business and address the key issues we will face the next two years as the state’s 88th Legislature.
Significant challenges remain for us in Minnesota, but we are in much better position now than we were two years ago. Since then, unemployment has dropped and we have generated three successive budget surpluses in our economic forecasts, dating back to November of 2011. We have put nearly $1 billion into state reserve accounts which had been depleted to make ends meet during budget shortages over the years.
Maybe the brightest development of late is we have fully repaid K-12 funding which was delayed as part of the 2011 budget compromise. Not only that, but we have repaid approximately half of the delayed K-12 funding enacted under the previous Democrat majority. We’re on the right track and now I urge the new Democratic majorities in the Legislature to take the next step and completely pay off the remaining K-12 debt.
I am honored to have been elected by my caucus to serve as an assistant minority leader this biennium. I also will be a member of four House Committees: Ethics; Health and Human Services Finance; Health and Human Services Policy; and Taxes.
New legislative lines are in place now, a process which takes place once a decade to account for population shifts. I represent District 57A, with 11 precincts in Apple Valley and two precincts in northern Lakeville.
I encourage local residents to provide me with input on any issues of importance to them. The best way to reach me during the session is by emailing rep.tara.mack@house.mn, or by calling (651) 296-5506.
You also can log onto www.house.mn/57a to find more information at my official state website.
Sincerely,
Tara