Dear Neighbors,
One month of the New Year is already almost behind us, and the legislative session is just three weeks away. In what will be a shorter session, we will still have a full plate with topics like the potential conformity to the federal tax bill, protection for seniors from abuse in care facilities, the state’s vehicle registration system, a bonding bill, and health care, to name a few. Here is an update from the State Capitol.
Public Works Investments
Gov. Mark Dayton recently released his capital investment bonding proposal including investments in public works across the state. This set of recommendations, with investments totaling $1.5 billion, would improve public infrastructure including at our higher education facilities, clean water infrastructure, expanded affordable housing, and other state assets. Much of the proposal was focused on “meat and potatoes” repair and maintenance, as opposed to new construction. While Gov. Dayton didn’t include any “local” projects in his proposal, he said he looks forward to working with the Legislature to include many of them in a final bill during the 2018 Legislative Session.
For my part, there are several proposals I plan to offer legislation to provide funding for, including gap funding for the Highway 53 reroute (the city of Virginia is still in the hole $5 million due to this), wastewater infrastructure in Aroura, an ATV park in Gilbert and several others.
IRRRB Invests in Childcare and Solar Energy
Last week the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) approved funding to build or expand childcare facilities in Eveleth, Virginia and Mountain Iron. The investments, totaling $480,000, will create new full-time childcare and space for more than 250 children.
As a new father, I understand the demands families face when looking to balance everything in day-to-day life, and securing quality childcare is one of these. With long waiting lists and a huge ratio of demand-to-availability, many parents struggle to find a good place for their kids to be cared for when they head off to work.
With emerging projects like Polymet, Mesabi Metallics and a start-up at Magnetation potentially on the horizon and the thousands of jobs that will be created, the Iron Range’s childcare squeeze will be intensified further. By combining investments like these with sound policies, we can make sure an inability for folks to locate childcare isn’t a barrier to getting a job and sharing in the prosperity as our economy grows.
In other action, the IRRRB approved a loan for an expansion of the solar panel plant in Mountain Iron. The plant, operated by Heliene, Inc., will have employment benchmarks and includes significant private investment. With the “Made in Minnesota Solar” program ending last year, investments like this are crucial to developing innovations like this which will lead to cleaner energy production as well as good paying jobs.
Be in Touch
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or feedback, or if I can ever be of assistance. Recently, legislative staff and I were able to assist a constituent with a fairly significant issue as it related to his health insurance coverage. I was honored that we received “Orchids” from the Mesabi Daily News for our work on this. If you ever run into a situation with state government and you’re running into roadblocks, I’m here to help, so please don’t hesitate to write or call.
Sincerely,
Jason Metsa
State Representative