Dear Neighbors,
First, I wanted to address yesterday’s shocking news regarding the officer shooting in South St. Paul. As one of the representatives of South St. Paul, I am heartened to hear the injuries are not life-threatening for both of the brave officers that were injured. I have contacted Mayor Francis to offer any assistance I can give. Please remember all our public safety officials and the duties that they perform to keep us safe in our communities. We owe them so much for all that they do. Please keep the two officers and their families in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days.
Today’s update will be the final one over the next few months. A state rule says that once we reach 60 days following the adjournment of session, we’re no longer allowed to send updates. The good news is, you can still contact my office for any reason and I can get back to you. I’d encourage you to stay in touch over the next couple months.
My final update of the summer got me thinking about my first two sessions in the legislature. I was proud that we were able to pass middle class tax relief, invest in roads and bridges around the state, and increase funding for Minnesota schools.
During the last two sessions, I was fortunate to have multiple major provisions signed into law. These include the expansion of the Minnesota GI Bill program to provide for apprenticeships and on-the-job training benefits, a strategic plan to eliminate HIV/AIDS in our state, a proposal to ensure a greater level of care for our elderly and vulnerable adults, and funding for the Seidl’s Lake stormwater lift station.
This year, I co-authored legislation that was signed into law to ensure transparency regarding the $850 million 3M settlement, as well as place some needed guardrails on how this money is allocated. I was also a co-author of the bill to provide nearly $9.5 million of funding for the HERO Center in Cottage Grove. These are both huge bills for our area that will be law!
I also authored legislation to improve school safety, combat distracted driving, and turn the tide on the opioid epidemic. Although these were vetoed by Governor Dayton, I’m encouraged by the progress we made this year, and I look forward to continuing to work on these important issues.
I want to thank you for the honor of representing you in St. Paul. Without your continued correspondence, visits to the Capitol, and advocacy for these important causes, these bills may not have made it far in the process. Our area was able to come together and help support these initiatives to benefit our communities. Again, thank you.
During the summer and fall, please continue to contact me if you need anything; I’m always here to help.
Have a great summer,
Keith