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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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Legislative Update - February 9, 2015

Monday, February 9, 2015
Greetings from the Floor,
 
Although I have been staying quite busy so far this session, the overall flow in the House of Representatives seems quite subdued as compared to last session.  Our committees are continuing with overviews from agencies, departments and research staff as we review Governor Dayton’s budget and prepare our own bills. I do remember we began with these overviews in 2013 for the first month or so; however, there was a much stronger sense of an agenda and direction at this point last session.  There seems to be a general consensus of the major issues we need to address over the next four months (workforce development, long-term and senior care, transportation and higher education to name a few), but the policy approaches to these issues have not been clearly defined by the House majority.  I am confident that these kinks of a new session will get worked out in time and we will be able to dig into the solutions we were elected to accomplish.
 
For my part, I have been working on workforce development, infrastructure funding and higher education bills.  I introduced two bills this week to complete the Oakport flood mitigation project and a grade separation at the 20th/21st Street location by Moorhead Senior High.  Funding in the grade separation bill would also go toward planning and design of a grade separation at 11th Street in Moorhead.  A report issued by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in December of last year named the 20th/21st Street project as top priority for rail infrastructure funding in the state.  For both of these bills it will be a matter of time as the session develops and we decide if the Legislature will complete a Capital Investment bill this year and how much may go into flood and rail infrastructure projects.
 
 
Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,
Ben