Dear Neighbor,
Here are a few jottings from the Capitol for this week:
Pillager High School representatives were on hand at the Capitol for a recent House Education Policy Committee meeting. Art teacher Dan Devine is in the middle of the above photo and appeared to provide legislative testimony pertaining to teacher licensure. Principal Scott Doss (in the light-blue tie) is immediately to the right of Devine.
Football fans may recognize Vikings tight-end John Carlson at the left edge of the photo. Carlson and Devine are both Litchfield natives and Carlson attended the meeting to support his friend. The group was well-received and did a great job providing testimony. It was good to see local residents at the Capitol to participate in the legislative process.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Sen. Paul Gazelka, Rep. Ron Kresha and I invite area residents to participate in a series of town-hall meetings in three District 9 cities Saturday, Feb. 23.
The events will take place in Wadena, Long Prairie and Little Falls. The meetings are free to attend and will take place in an informal setting.
Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss a wide variety of legislative issues. Your input is crucial in helping me to continue doing my best to represent the people of this area and I hope you can attend one of these meetings.
Feb. 23 town hall meeting schedule
Wadena
Pizza Ranch
106 Jefferson St. S.
10:30 a.m. to noon
(218) 631-2145
Long Prairie
City Hall
615 Lake St. S.
1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(320) 732-2847
Little Falls
Carnegie Library
108 3rd St. N.E.
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(320) 632-9676
STATE REVENUE IS UP
Here is one bit of good news we can discuss at the town hall meetings: Reports last week showed Minnesota’s state revenue collections continue to surpass previous projections, with $140 million more than expected in January. Individual income and sales tax revenue both exceeded projections.
This supplemental report is good news as we prepare to receive a full state economic update later this month. Information from that report will be a key factor in setting a new two-year state budget. Let’s hope the improvements made in 2011-12 continue to perform and put Minnesota on more solid ground.
Sincerely,
Mark