Friends,
As the legislature breaks for Easter and Passover, I will be taking time this weekend to celebrate this wonderful season with my friends and family. I want to wish all of you a very blessed Passover and Easter with your own loved ones.
REAL ID
When we get back from the legislature, at the top of the to-do list will be to continue to finish the work on REAL ID. In the past week, I have met with officials from the Dayton Administration to work to find a solution on REAL ID. Following these meetings, I am pleased to hear the comments from Governor Dayton that express his desire to get a solution in place on this issue. The first meeting to resolve differences between the House & Senate versions will take place on Tuesday. I am excited for the work ahead. As a reminder, you can watch the video I put together on REAL ID here.
LIFO on Channel 12
Tonight on Channel 12, and available online after it airs, I will be on to talk about teacher retention reform. A Minnesota "Teacher of the Year" was recently let go due to current "Last-in, First-out" (LIFO) lay-off practices at a local school district. I am proud to be a co-author on the bill to reform this practice that is included in the House eduction plan, which the House passed this session. The reform will remove the default in state statute that makes LIFO the default in lay-off decisions. We need to keep the best teachers in the classroom and this is a big step in that direction. Tune in tonight!
Rep. Smith during his interview with Channel 12
Please continue to share your thoughts with me about our state government; bill ideas and concerns are welcomed! I am honored to serve you at the Capitol. My email address is Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, phone number 651-296-5502, and by mail: 375 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a great weekend!
Dennis