Dear neighbors,
Governor Dayton’s Transportation Proposal
Transportation is a hot topic this legislative session and I have recently had the opportunity to visit with several groups advocating for various transportation improvements. Without a doubt, members of the public seem to agree that infrastructure improvements must be a top priority this session. However the details of which projects will be included and how they will be funded are being debated.
Earlier this week, Governor Dayton and Transportation Commissioner Zelle released a list of road and bridge projects that would be included in the Governor’s transportation plan. Some of these projects are in Dakota County, including work on US Highway 52 and MN Highway 3.
There are over 600 road and bridge improvements included in the plan across the state. These projects include fixing roads in urgent need of repair, making longer-term fixes on currently planned projects, preventative maintenance to help prevent future problems and strategic expansion of major freight routes. Priority was given to roads and bridges that are in very poor condition and are about to reach the end of their service life. You can view the full list of proposed projects
here.
MNsure Audit
As you may have seen on the news this week, Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles released a report on MNsure’s first year. MNsure, our state health exchange, was created to accommodate the Federal Affordable Care Act in 2013 and went into effect last year. I voted against the proposal and helped to form a bipartisan Health Care Cost Study Group to try to address the concerns with MNsure and other healthcare issues in Minnesota.
In his report, the legislative auditor said that MNsure did not deliver what was promised, criticizing technical problems and issues with the initial roll-out. Many of the reasons I voted against the proposal were cited by Nobles as problems with MNsure that need to be resolved, including issues with the MNsure board and reporting authority. I can assure you that I will continue to work to hold MNsure accountable and to improve healthcare options for Minnesotans.
Behind the Scenes
With each legislative update, I plan to bring you a glimpse behind the scenes at the Capitol, offering helpful information to help you better engage in the democratic process. This week, I’d like to highlight the great service of
House Public Information Services. The dedicated staff of House Info are committed to providing the public with timely, nonpartisan information including Session Daily—a recap of daily legislative activities, TV and video of committee hearings and floor session, photos of happenings at the legislature, and basic information about the legislative process and current legislators. If you are ever at the Capitol, visit House Public Information Services on the first floor of the State Office Building. You can also find them on
Facebook for updates in your news feed.
Looking forward
This Friday, the February Economic Forecast will be released by Minnesota Management and Budget. The forecast will inform us of our state’s budget situation, which is currently projected to be a $1 billion surplus. This is the third straight year where the state is facing budget surplus, after years of budget deficits.
Sincerely,
Laurie Halverson
State Representative
District 51B